Camera module and array camera module based on integral packaging technology

ABSTRACT

A camera module and an array camera module based on an integral packing process are disclosed. The camera module or each of the camera module units of the array camera module includes a circuit board, an integral base, a photosensitive element operatively connected to the circuit board, a lens, a light filter holder installed at the integral base and a light filter installed at the light filter holder. The light filter is not required to be directly installed to the integral base, so that the light filter is protected and the requiring area of the light filter is reduced.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 120 to a non-provisional application, application Ser.No. 15/512,065, filed Mar. 16, 2017, which is a non-provisionalapplication that claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e)to Chinese applications, application number 2016102508366, filed Apr.21, 2016, application number 2016203368429, filed Apr. 21, 2016,application number 2016103112328, filed May 11, 2016, application number2016204225259, filed May 11, 2016, application number 2016108984309,filed Oct. 14, 2016, application number 2016211245098, filed Oct. 14,2016, application number 2016211249648, filed Oct. 14, 2016, applicationnumber 2016211244042, filed Oct. 14, 2016, and the benefit of priorityunder 35 U.S.C. § 371 to international application numberPCT/CN2016/106402, international filing date Nov. 18, 2016, wherein theentire contents of each of which are expressly incorporated herein byreference.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as itappears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Field of Invention

The present invention relates to camera modules, and more particularlyto a camera module and array camera module based on an integralpackaging technology.

Description of Related Arts

A camera module is one of the indispensable components of an intelligentelectronic device such as smart phone, camera, computer device, wearabledevice, and the like. With the continuous development of a variety ofintelligent devices and the popularity of the intelligent devices, thecamera module requirements are getting higher and higher.

In recent years, intelligent electronic devices have been developed byleaps and bounds, the growing trend of the intelligent electronicdevices is towards thinner and thinner. In order to adapt suchdevelopment, the camera module of the intelligent electronic device isrequired to be multi-functional, lightweight and compact in size, sothat electronic equipment can be made thinner and thinner while meetingits imaging requirements. Therefore, the camera module manufacturerscontinue to focus on designing and manufacturing camera modules thatmeet these requirements.

Molded packaging technology is an emerging packaging technologydeveloped from the conventional COB (Chip on Board) packagingtechnology. As shown in FIG. 1A of the drawings, a circuit boardencapsulated by a conventional integrated packaging technology isillustrated, wherein a packaging portion 1 is packaged on a circuitboard 2 through a packaging process, and then a chip 3 (such as animaging sensor and a photosensitive element) is connected to the circuitboard 2, and a light filter 4 is installed to the molded portion 1. Thepackaging portion 1 embeds the electronic components 5 which areprovided on the circuit board 2, so as to reduce the occupying space forthe electronic components 5 of the camera module, so that the size ofthe camera module can be made smaller and it can also solve the problemof the dust that may adhere on the electronic components 5 and adverselyinfluence the imaging quality of the camera module.

As shown in FIG. 1B, a circuit board packaged through a conventional COBtechnology is illustrated. In comparison with the conventional COBpackaging technology, the packaging technology has many advantages. Forexample, through replacing the holder 7 with the packaging portion 1,the occupying space for the electronic components 5 can be reduced so asto reduce the size of the camera module, and that the dust that mayadhere on the electronic components 5 and adversely influence theimaging quality of the camera module can thus be avoided. However, somenew problems arise in such conventional packaging structure.

The light filter, which is a very important component in a modern cameramodule, serves to filter infrared lights, so that a desired lightobserving performance similar to a human eye observing effect can beachieved. The light filter is easy to be damaged. It also plays asignificant role in the manufacturing cost of the camera module. Thelarger the size of the light filter, the more expensive of the lightfilter. In addition, when the filtering area of the light filter isrelatively large, the degree of the manufacturing accuracy of the lightfilter is relatively hard to control too. Therefore, the issue of thelight filter should be carefully considered when adopting the packagingtechnology.

First of all, in comparison with the conventional COB packagingtechnology, the packaging portion embeds the electronic components 5 inthe packaging technology so as to further utilize the space and positionof the electronic components 5. However, comparing with the COB holderas shown in FIG. 1B, the introduction of the packaging portion mustincrease the assembly space of the light filter 4 at top of thepackaging portion. In other words, a relative larger size of the lightfilter 4 is required for the packaging technology.

More specifically, referring to FIG. 1B, the light filter 7 asillustrated is installed on the holder 7 in the conventional COBtechnology. Because the holder 7 is installed on the circuit board 2 ina later step, it can be manufactured to have different shapes. Forexample, as long as the photosensitive area is not blocked, the holdercan extend inwardly to reduce the size of the light filter as much aspossible, so as to enable an easy assembly while ensuring to fulfill itsutility requirement. And, since the light filter with a relativelysmaller size can be used, the manufacturing cost of the camera modulecan be reduced. However, in the packaging technology, the packagingportion 1, which is integrally formed on the circuit board 2 through aset of moulds, is integrally extended from bottom to top, so that thesize of the light filter 4 is determined by an opening of the packagingportion 1, and thus the light filter is inevitable to be relativelylarge.

Secondly, in the packaging technology, as shown in FIG. 1A, the lightfilter 4 is required to be installed in a groove 6 of the packagingportion 1. However, because of the adoption of the packaging technology,the shape of the corner of the groove 6 is hard to control. In otherwords, the groove walls for forming the groove 6, especially the jointposition between the adjacent groove walls, are prone to deform that,for example, may produce some blurs so that it is not able to provide agood assembling condition for the light filter 4, and thus smoothness ishard to guarantee. The light filter is also easy to get damages.However, in a conventional holder 7, an inner groove 8 can be provided.In other words, the holder 7 can extend inwardly to provide a shelteringposition for the light filter 4 while reduce the assembly area of thelight filter 4. However, since the packaging portion is formed throughan integrally forming process, a demoulding issue exists in themanufacturing process, so that the structure of the conventional holdercan be manufactured by the packaging process. Therefore, theconventional packaging technology can only provide a limited structure,e.g. the packaging portion 1 without the inner groove 8. Theconventional holder, the packaging holder, and their forming processesboth have their own advantages and disadvantages. Therefore, acombination of the advantages of the two structures is desired.

Thirdly, even the packaging portion 1 is constructed to be a flat stepstructure without the groove 6, it ensures that the surface of thepackaging portion 1 has a good flatness for providing a good assemblycondition for the light filter 4. However, in this structure, on onehand, the light filter 4 has to share the packaging portion 1 with othercomponents such as a lens or an actuator, so that a relatively highrequirement for the assembly accuracy is required, or otherwise thesecomponents may damage the light filter during the assembly process. Onthe other hand, a distance between the light filter and the lens isrelatively small, so that a lens element of the lens may easy to havecontact with the light filter, and also a back focus length of the lensis increased.

Furthermore, the circuit board is required to be installed with thephotosensitive element, the electronic components, and the packagingportion, so that the layout of these components will have an influenceon the area of the circuit board. Because of the integral forming mannerof the molded portion, the area of the conventional packaging portionwill even be larger than the area of the conventional holder, i.e. theoccupying area of the packaging portion on the circuit board isrelatively large.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thecamera module comprises a light filter holder which is cooperative withan integral base of the camera module, so that it is capable ofproviding support to various components.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thelight filter holder provides a suitable assembly position for the lightfilter, so that the light filter is not required to be directlyinstalled on the integral base of the camera module.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thelight filter holder has a supporting groove adapted for installing thelight filter, so that the light filter can be installed at a lowerposition, i.e. closer to the circuit board and the photosensitiveelement.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thelight filter holder has an engaging groove adapted for engaging with theintegral base, so that a total height of the combination of the lightfilter holder and the integral base is reduced, and the light filer isable to be positioned closer to the photosensitive element.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thelight filter holder comprises a holder body and at least one inwardextending arm which is inwardly extended from a lower side thereof fordefining the supporting groove.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thelight filter holder comprises a downward extending arm which islongitudinally extended from the holder body, wherein the inwardextending arm is transversely extended from the downward extending arm,so that the engaging groove and the supporting groove are respectivelyformed.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein theintegral base has at least one notch that communicates to outside, thelight filter holder comprises at least one extending edge whichcorresponds to the notch and adapts the transverse thickness of theintegral base.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thelight filter holder comprises an upward extending surrounding wall whichis capable of restricting the position of the actuator or lens, so asensure a uniform axis.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thelight filter holder is capable of protecting the light filter byavoiding any stress applied on the integral molded base when the lightfilter is directly installed on the integral base.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a camera module andarray camera module based on integral packaging process, wherein thearray camera module comprises an integral piece of light filter holderswhich comprises at least two light filter holders integrally connectedtogether for supporting at least two light filters respectively, so asto ensure the accordance of the camera module units.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andadvantages are attained by a camera module which comprises at least oneintegral base assembly, at least one photosensitive element, at leastone lens, at least one light filter holder, and at least one lightfilter, wherein the integral base assembly comprises a circuit board andan integral base integrally packaged on the circuit board. Thephotosensitive element is operatively connected to the circuit board.The light filter holder is installed with the integral molded base andforms an optical window for providing a light passage (photosensitivepath) to the photosensitive element, so that the light filter isinstalled at the light filter holder and aligned in a photosensitivepath of the photosensitive element, while the lens is also aligned inthe photosensitive path of the photosensitive element.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder of the cameramodule comprises a light filter holder body and at least one inwardextending arm which is transversely extended from a partial portion ofthe light filter holder body to form a supporting groove for installingthe light filter.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder of the cameramodule comprises a light filter holder body, at least one downwardextending arm, and at least one inward extending arm, wherein thedownward extending arm is downwardly extended from the light filterholder body to form an engaging groove for engaging with the integralbase, wherein the inward extending arm is transversely extended from thedownward extending arm to form an supporting groove for supporting thelight filter.

According to some embodiments, a corner opening is formed between twoinward extending arms of the camera module, wherein the corner openingis outwardly extended from the light window for increasing the lightflux at the position of the corner opening.

According to some embodiments, each downward extending arm of the cameramodule is longitudinally extended from the light filter holder bodytowards the photosensitive element, and the position of the light filteris downwardly displaced and closer to the photosensitive element.

According to some embodiments, each inward extending arm of the cameramodule is transversely extended from the downward extending arm so as toreduce an assembly area of the light filter.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulehas at least one installing groove communicated with the light windowand at least one notch communicating the light window to outside,wherein the light filter holder body of the light filter holdercomprises at least one engaging edge engaged with the installing grooveand at least one extending edge which extends into and sealedly fitswith the notch.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulehas three installing grooves to form a U-shaped configuration, whereinthe light filter holder body of the light filter holder comprises threeengaging edges forming a corresponding U-shaped configuration formatching with the three installing grooves respectively.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulehas two installing grooves communicated to the light window and twonotches communicating the light window to outside, wherein the lightfilter holder body of the light filter holder comprises two engagingedges for coupling with the two installing grooves respectively and twoextending edges which extend into and sealedly fit with the two notchesrespectively.

According to some embodiments, the two installing grooves of theintegral base of the camera module are arranged at opposite sides,wherein the two notches are arranged at opposite sides and,correspondingly, the two engaging edges of the light filter holder arearranged at opposite sides, while the two extending edges are arrangedat opposite sides.

According to some embodiments, the two installing grooves of theintegral base of the camera module are adjacent to each other, whereinthe two notches are adjacent to each other and, correspondingly, the twoengaging edges of the light filter holder are adjacent to each other,while the two extending edges are adjacent to each other too.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulehas one installing groove communicated to the light window and threenotches communicating the light window to outside, wherein the lightfilter holder body of the light filter holder comprises one engagingedge for coupling with the installing groove and three extending edgeswhich extend into and sealedly fit with the three notches respectively.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulecomprises an upward extending surrounding wall which is upwardlyextended from the light filter holder body to form a retaining chamber.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulecomprises an upward extending surrounding wall which is upwardlyextended from the light filter holder body to form a retaining chamberand a downward extending surrounding wall downwardly extended from thelight filter holder body to form a lower housing chamber.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder of the cameramodule has a receiving opening for receiving the light filter which isaligned in the photosensitive path of the photosensitive element.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulecomprises a base body which is integrally molded and packaged on thecircuit board, wherein the base body has at least one opening, whereinthe light filter holder is supplemental to the base body and is alignedwith the opening to define the light window.

According to some embodiments, the opening of the base body of thecamera module has an inverted trapezoid shape with a size graduallyincreasing from bottom to top.

According to some embodiments, at least one portion of the light filterholder of the camera module is connected to the circuit board.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder of the cameramodule comprises at least one extending leg which is downwardly andintegrally extended from the light filter holder body to the circuitboard to fit into the opening of the integral base so as to sealedlyform the light window.

According to some embodiments, the opening of the base body of thecamera module has an inverted trapezoid shape with a size graduallyincreasing from bottom to top, wherein the extending leg also has aninverted trapezoid shape to match with the shape of the opening, so asto retain the light filter holder in position at the opening.

According to some embodiments, the camera module comprises at least oneactuator which is at least partially and selectively installed to theintegral base and the light filter holder, wherein the lens is installedwith the actuator.

According to some embodiments, the lens of the camera module is at leastpartially and selectively installed to the integral base and/or thelight filter holder.

According to some embodiments, the lens of the camera module is at leastpartially installed to the integral base.

According to some embodiments, the light filter of the camera module isselected from the group consisting of IR cut filter, blue glass filter,visual light filter, ultraviolet light filter, and wafer level IR cutfilter.

According to some embodiments, the integral packaging manner of theintegral base is achieved through a molding packaging process.

According to some embodiments, the circuit board of the camera modulecomprises a base board and at least one electronic component provided onthe base board, wherein the integral base, which is integrally packagedon the base board, embeds the electronic component.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera module isfurther formed with a lens barrel which defines a lens cavity forinstalling the lens.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder of the cameramodule is formed through an injection molding process, a transfermolding process, or a press molding process.

According to some embodiments, the integral base of the camera modulehas an inner side surface which defines an incline angle, wherein theengaging groove has an engaging angle which is corresponding to theincline angle.

According to some embodiments, the camera module may comprise aplurality of integral base assemblies, a plurality of photosensitiveelements, a plurality of lens, a plurality of light filter holders, anda plurality of light filters, wherein each integral base assembly isintegrally formed with the circuit board to form an integral circuitboard assembly, wherein the integral bases are integrally molded to forman integral piece of bases, and the light filter holders may beintegrally formed to form an integral piece of light filter holders.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder of the cameramodule further comprises at least one retaining protrusion which is atleast partially protruded from a top of the light filter holder body.

According to some embodiments, the retaining protrusion is constructedto be in ring shape.

According to some embodiments, the camera module comprises an actuator,wherein the lens is installed with the actuator and the actuator isretained to be installed at an outer side of the retaining protrusionor, alternatively, the lens can also be installed inside the retainingprotrusion.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the presentinvention provides an array camera module which comprises a plurality ofcamera module units which are arranged in an array, wherein each cameramodule unit comprises at least one integral base assembly, at least onephotosensitive element, at least one lens, at least one light filterholder, and at least one light filter, wherein the integral baseassembly comprises an integral base and a circuit board, and theintegral base is integrally packaged on the circuit board, wherein thephotosensitive element is operatively connected to the circuit board,and the light filter holder is installed with the integral base andforms an optical window for providing a light passage to thephotosensitive element, wherein the light filter is installed at thelight filter holder and aligned in a photosensitive path of thephotosensitive element, while the lens is also aligned in thephotosensitive path of the photosensitive element, wherein the integralbases of the plurality of camera module units can, but not limited to,be integrally formed to provide an integral piece of bases.

According to some embodiments, the plurality of circuit boards areintegrally formed to provide an integral piece of circuit boards, theplurality of light filter holders are integrally formed to provide anintegral piece of light filter holders. t is appreciated that, in someother embodiments, the plurality of circuit boards are independentcircuit boards, and the plurality of light filter holders areindependent light filter holders.

According to some embodiments, the integral piece of bases of the arraycamera module comprises a plurality of base boards each having a lightwindow formed therein, wherein the two adjacent base boards areintegrally formed to provide an joint portion, and the integral piece oflight filter holders has a plurality of supporting grooves communicatingwith the light windows for assembling the light filters respectively,wherein two adjacent light filter holders are integrally formed toprovide a bridge portion which is provided above the joint portion ofthe integral piece of bases.

According to some embodiments, each light filter holder of the arraycamera module comprises a light filter holder body and at least oneinward extending arm which is transversely extended from a partialportion of the light filter holder body to form a supporting groove forinstalling the light filter.

According to some embodiments, each light filter holder of the arraycamera module comprises a light filter holder body, at least onedownward extending arm, and at least one inward extending arm, whereinthe downward extending arm is downwardly extended from the light filterholder body to form an engaging groove for engaging with the integralbase, wherein the inward extending arm is transversely extended from thedownward extending arm to form an supporting groove for supporting thelight filter.

According to some embodiments, a corner opening is formed between twoinward extending arms of the array camera module, wherein the corneropening is outwardly extended from the light window for increasing thelight flux at the position of the corner opening.

According to some embodiments, each downward extending arm of the arraycamera module is longitudinally extended from the light filter holderbody towards the photosensitive element, and that the light filter canbe installed at a lower position and closer to the photosensitiveelement.

According to some embodiments, each inward extending arm of the arraycamera module is transversely extended from the downward extending armso as to reduce an assembly area of the light filter.

According to some embodiments, each integral base of the array cameramodule has at least one installing groove communicated with the lightwindow and at least one notch communicating the light window to outside,wherein the light filter holder body of the light filter holdercomprises at least one engaging edge which engages with the installinggroove and at least one extending edge which extends into and sealedlyfits with the notch.

According to some embodiments, each integral base of the array cameramodule has three installing grooves forming a U-shaped configuration,wherein the light filter holder body of the light filter holdercomprises three engaging edges forming a corresponding U-shapedconfiguration for matching with the three installing groovesrespectively.

According to some embodiments, each integral base of the array cameramodule has two installing grooves communicated to the light window andtwo notches communicating the light window to outside, wherein the lightfilter holder body of the light filter holder comprises two engagingedges for coupling with the two installing grooves respectively and twoextending edges extend into and sealedly fit with the two notchesrespectively.

According to some embodiments, the two installing grooves of eachintegral base of the array camera module are arranged at opposite sides;the two notches are arranged at opposite sides and, correspondingly, thetwo engaging edges of the light filter holder are arranged at oppositesides; the two extending edges are arranged at opposite sides.

According to some embodiments, the two installing grooves of eachintegral base of the array camera module are adjacent to each other; thetwo notches are adjacent to each other and, correspondingly, the twoengaging edges of the light filter holder are adjacent to each other;the two extending edges are adjacent to each other.

According to some embodiments, each integral base of the array cameramodule has one installing groove communicated to the light window andthree notches communicating the light window to outside, wherein thelight filter holder body of the light filter holder comprises oneengaging edge for coupling with the installing groove and threeextending edges which extend into and sealedly fit with the threenotches respectively.

According to some embodiments, each integral base of the array cameramodule comprises an upward extending surrounding wall which is upwardlyextended from the light filter holder body to form a retaining chamber.

According to some embodiments, each integral base of the array cameramodule comprises an upward extending surrounding wall which is upwardlyextended from the light filter holder body to form a retaining chamberand a downward extending surrounding wall downwardly extended from thelight filter holder body to form a lower housing chamber.

According to some embodiments, each integral base of the array cameramodule comprises a base body which is integrally packaged on the circuitboard, wherein the base body has at least one opening extending to thecircuit board, wherein the integral piece of light filter holderscomprises at least one extending leg which fits into the opening andconnects to the circuit board.

According to some embodiments, the extending leg of the array cameramodule is extended from the light filter holder body to the circuitboard to seal a periphery of the light opening.

According to some embodiments, the extending leg of the array cameramodule is extended between two adjacent light windows to separate anddefine the two light windows.

According to some embodiments, each light filter holder of the arraycamera module has a receiving opening for receiving the light filter soas to align the light filter in the photosensitive path of thephotosensitive element

According to some embodiments, the array camera module comprises atleast one actuator which is at least partially and selectively installedto the integral piece of bases and the integral piece of light filterholders, and the lens is installed with the actuator, so as to form anauto-focus camera module.

According to some embodiments, at least one lens of the array cameramodule is at least partially and selectively installed to the integralpiece of bases and the integral piece of light filter holders, so as toform a fixed-focus camera module.

According to some embodiments, at least one of the camera module unitsof the array camera module is an auto-focus camera module, and at leastone of the camera module units of the array camera module is afixed-focus camera module.

According to some embodiments, at least two camera module units of thearray camera module are auto-focus camera modules.

According to some embodiments, at least two camera module units of thearray camera module are fixed-focus camera modules.

According to some embodiments, the array camera module comprises twocamera module units so as to form a dual camera module.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides anelectronic device which comprises an electronic device body and one ormore the camera modules which are provided at the electronic devicebody.

According to some embodiments, the electronic device can be, but notlimited to, smart phone, wearable device, computer device, television,transporting device, digital camera and monitoring device.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides an arraycamera module which comprises at least two lenses, at least twophotosensitive elements, an integral piece of at least two circuitboards, an integral piece of at least two bases, at least two lightfilters, and at least two light filter holders, wherein the integralpiece of bases is integrally packaged on the integral piece of circuitboards and forms at least two light windows for providing two lightpassages for the corresponding lenses and photosensitive elementsrespectively, wherein the light filter holder bodies are installed atthe integral piece of bases for installing the light filtersrespectively in such a manner that each light filter is arranged betweenthe respective lens and photosensitive element.

According to another aspect, the present invention provides anelectronic device which comprises an electronic device body and one ormore array camera modules which are provided at the electronic devicebody.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A illustrates a conventional circuit board assembly manufacturedthrough a packaging process.

FIG. 1B illustrates a conventional circuit board assembly manufacturedthrough a COB process.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a camera module according to a firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the camera module according to the abovefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 illustrates the assembling process of key components of thecamera module according to the above first preferred embodiment of thepresent invention

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a camera module according to analternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a camera module according to anotheralternative mode of the above first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating a first alternative mode of theintegral base assembly and the light filter holder of the camera moduleaccording to the above first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8A is a sectional view illustrating a second alternative mode ofthe integral base assembly and the light filter holder of the cameramodule according to the above first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 8B is a sectional view illustrating an alternative example of thesecond alternative mode of the integral base assembly and the lightfilter holder of the camera module according to the above firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8C is a sectional view illustrating another alternative example ofthe second alternative mode of the integral base assembly and the lightfilter holder of the camera module according to the above firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating a third alternative mode ofthe light filter holder of the camera module according to the abovefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9B is a schematic view illustrating another alternative mode of theintegral base assembly and light filter holder of the camera moduleaccording to the above first preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 10A and FIG. 10B are sectional views from different directions of acamera module according to a second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of the integral base assembly and the lightfilter holder of the camera module according to the above secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12A and FIG. 12B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an alternative mode of the integral base assembly and thelight filter holder of the camera module according to a second preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13A is an exploded view illustrating the alternative mode of theintegral base assembly and the light filter holder of the camera moduleaccording to the above second preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 13B is a schematic view illustrating another alternative mode ofthe integral base assembly and the light filter holder of the cameramodule according to the above second preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

FIG. 13C is an exploded view of the integral base assembly and the lightfilter holder of the array camera module of FIG. 13B.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view of a camera module according to a thirdpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15A and FIG. 15B are sectional views from different directions of acamera module according to a fourth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 16A and FIG. 16B are sectional views from different directions of acamera module according to a fifth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17A and FIG. 17B are sectional views from different directions of acamera module according to a sixth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 18A and FIG. 18B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an alternative mode of the camera module according to theabove sixth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 19A and FIG. 19B are sectional views from different directions of acamera module according to a seventh preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 20A is a sectional view of a camera module according to an eighthpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 20B is another sectional view of the camera module according to theabove eighth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 21 is an exploded view of the camera module according to the aboveeighth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 22 is a sectional view of a camera module according to a ninthpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 23 is a sectional view of a camera module according to a tenthpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 24 is a schematic view illustrating an application of the cameramodule according to the above preferred embodiments of the presentinvention.

FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B are sectional views different directions of anarray camera module according to an eleventh preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 26 is an exploded view of the array camera module according to theabove eleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 27 is perspective view of an integral piece of light filter holdersof the array camera module according to the above eleventh preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 28A and FIG. 28B are sectional views illustrating another exampleof the array camera module according to the above eleventh preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 29A and FIG. 29B are sectional views illustrating another exampleof the array camera module according to the above eleventh preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 30A and FIG. 30B are schematic views illustrating an alternativemode of the array camera module according to the above eleventhpreferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 31 is a sectional view illustrating a first alternative mode of theintegral pieces of base assemblies and the integral piece of lightfilter holders of the array camera module according to the aboveeleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32A is a sectional view illustrating a second alternative mode ofthe array camera module according to the above eleventh preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 32B is a schematic view illustrating an alternative example of thesecond alternative mode of the integral pieces of base assemblies andthe integral piece of light filter holders of the array camera moduleaccording to the above eleventh preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 32C is a schematic view illustrating another alternative example ofthe second alternative mode of the integral pieces of base assembliesand the integral piece of light filter holders of the array cameramodule according to the above eleventh preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 33A is a schematic view illustrating a third alternative mode ofthe integral pieces of base assemblies and the integral piece of lightfilter holders of the array camera module according to the aboveeleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 33B is a schematic view illustrating a fourth alternative mode ofthe integral piece of base assemblies and the integral piece of lightfilter holders of the array camera module according to the above seventhpreferred embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 34A and FIG. 34B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an array camera module according to a twelfth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 35 is an exploded view illustrating the array camera moduleaccording to the above twelfth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 36A and 36B are sectional views illustrating a joint integral baseassembly and a joint light filter holder of the array camera moduleaccording to the above twelfth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 36C is an exploded view illustrating the integral piece of basesand the integral piece of light filter holders of the array cameramodule according to the above twelfth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 37A is a perspective view of the integral piece of base assembliesand the integral piece of light filter holders of the array cameramodule according to the above twelfth preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

FIG. 37B is an exploded view of the integral piece of base assembliesand the integral piece of light filter holders of the array cameramodule of FIG. 37A.

FIG. 38A and FIG. 38B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an array camera module according to a thirteenth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 39 is an exploded view illustrating the integral piece of bases andthe integral piece of light filter holders of the array camera moduleaccording to the above thirteenth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 40A and FIG. 40B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an array camera module according to a fourteenth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 41 is an exploded view illustrating the integral piece of bases andthe integral piece of light filter holders of the array camera moduleaccording to the above fourteenth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 42A and FIG. 42B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an alternative mode of the array camera module according tothe above fourteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 43 is an exploded view illustrating the alternative mode of theintegral piece of bases and the integral piece of light filter holdersof the array camera module according to the above fourteenth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 44A and FIG. 44B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an array camera module according to a fifteenth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 45 is an exploded view illustrating the integral piece of bases andthe integral piece of light filter holders of the array camera moduleaccording to the above fifteenth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 46A and FIG. 46B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an alternative mode of the array camera module according tothe above fifteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 47 is an exploded view illustrating the alternative mode of theintegral piece of bases and the integral piece of light filter holdersof the array camera module according to the above fifteenth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 48A and FIG. 48B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an array camera module according to a sixteenth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 49 is an exploded view illustrating the integral piece of bases andthe integral piece of light filter holders of the array camera moduleaccording to the above sixteenth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 50A and FIG. 50B are sectional views from different directionsillustrating an array camera module according to a seventeenth preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 51 is an exploded view illustrating the array camera moduleaccording to the above seventeenth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 52 is a sectional view of an array camera module according to aneighteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 53 is a sectional view of an array camera module according to anineteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 54A is a sectional view of an array camera module according to atwentieth preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 54B is a sectional view of an array camera module according to atwenty first preferred embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 55 is a schematic view illustrating an application of the arraycamera module according to the above preferred embodiments of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments areprovided in the following description only as examples and modificationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principlesdefined in the following description would be applied to otherembodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applicationswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Those skilled in the art should understand that, in the disclosure ofthe present invention, terminologies of “longitudinal,” “lateral,”“upper,” “front,” “back,” “left,” “right,” “perpendicular,”“horizontal,” “top,” “bottom,” “inner,” “outer,” and etc. just indicaterelations of direction or position are based on the relations ofdirection or position shown in the appended drawings, which is only tofacilitate descriptions of the present invention and to simplify thedescriptions, rather than to indicate or imply that the referred deviceor element must be arranged in such a specific direction or to beoperated or configured in specific direction. Therefore, the abovementioned terminologies shall not be interpreted as a limitation to thepresent invention.

It is understandable that the term “a” or “an” should be understood as“at least one” or “one or more”. In other words, in one embodiment, thenumber of an element can be one and in other embodiment the number ofthe element can be more than one. The term “a” or “an” is not construedas a limitation of quantity.

The molding packaging process is a newly developed important applicationprocess in the field of camera modules. The molding or packaging processmay have been well known in other fields, but in the field of cameramodules, especially the current popular camera modules with a pluralityof lenses and with high resolution. The molding packaging process hasjust begun to present its advantages and importance, and is becomingapplicable. In comparison with the conventional packaged camera moduleby a COB process, the camera module manufactured based on the moldingpackaging process is able to replace a conventional independent holderby forming the holder by the molding packaging process, so as to provideadvantages such as reducing the size of the camera module, and providinga flat installing surface. However, the holder formed by the moldingpackaging process has to take up the responsibility of the originalholder, such as for installing the light filter. As mentioned above, theholder formed by the molding packaging process is not suitable fordirectly installing with the light filter. On the other hand, theconfiguration of the photosensitive element and electronic components onthe circuit board will have an adverse influence to the size of thecamera module. However, according to the present invention, a cameramodule and an array camera module based on an integral packagingprocess, as well as a light filter holder are provided. Accordingly, thelight filter holder is introduced into the camera module and the arraycamera module, so that the light filter holder cooperates with anintegral base, so as to undertake the function of the conventionalholder. Therefore, when applying the integral packaging process such asthe molding packaging process, a good installing condition can beprovided for a light filter, an actuator or a lens, so as to make up theinstalling problem of the integral packaging process, and optimize theconfiguration of components on the circuit board, so that the spacearound the circuit board is fully effectively utilized and thus the sizeof the camera module can be further reduced.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 of the drawings, a camera module according toa first embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Accordingly,the camera module 100 can be incorporated into various electronicdevices, including but not limited to smart phone, wearable device,computer device, television, transporting device, digital camera,monitoring device, and the like so as to cooperative with the electronicdevice to achieve an image acquisition and reproduction of a targetobject.

As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the camera module 100 according to the firstembodiment of the present invention comprises an integral base assembly10, a photosensitive element 20, a lens 30, a light filter holder 40 anda light filter 50.

The integral base assembly 10 comprises an integral base 11 and acircuit board 12, and the integral base 11 is integrally packaged on thecircuit board 12. For example, but not limiting, the integral base 11 isintegrally packaged on the circuit board 12 through a molding process.The light filter holder 40 is adapted to be installed at the integralbase 11 so that the integral base 11 and the light filter holder 40 arecooperative that can replace the holder or supporter of the conventionalcamera module which has to be adhered to the circuit board by glue whilethe present invention does not require such adhering procedure. Thephotosensitive element 20 is operatively connected to the circuit board12. Accordingly, the photosensitive element 20 is electrically connectedto the circuit board 12 of the integral base assembly 10, the lightfilter holder 40 is installed with the integral base assembly 10, andthe lens 30 is positioned in a photosensitive path of the photosensitiveelement 20.

The integral base 11 has a light window 111 and comprises a base body112 defining the light window 111 in a central portion thereof whichprovides a light passage for the photosensitive element 20. The basebody 112 is molded to be integrally packaged with the circuit board 12.More specifically, according to this embodiment, the light window 111 isdefined by an inner surrounding wall of the base body 112 to provide aperiphery sealing inner enclosure for the lens 30. The circuit board 12comprises a base board 121 and a plurality of electronic componentsincluding, but not limited to resistors, capacitors, drives and etc.,which are mounted on the base board through a SMT adhering process.According to this preferred embodiment, the integral base 11 is moldedto be integrally packaged on the base board 121 with the electroniccomponents 122 being embedded therein so as to avoid a problem in theconventional camera module that the dust and particles would be adheredto electronic components 122 and contaminate the photosensitive element20 to adversely influence the image quality thereof. It isunderstandable that in other embodiments, the electronic components 122may be embedded in the base board 121, i.e. the electronic components122 may not be exposed to outside. The base board 121 of the circuitboard 12 can be PCB rigid board, PCB flexible board, rigid-flexiblecombination board, ceramics board, and etc. It is worth mentioning that,according to this preferred embodiment, the integral base 11 cancompletely embed and cover these electronic components 122, so that theelectronic components 122 do not need to be embedded into the base board121, and the base board 121 is only used for forming electricallyconductive circuits. Therefore, a thickness of the final integral baseassembly 10 being manufactured can be relatively thinner.

It is worth mentioning that the electronic components 122 may bearranged around the photosensitive element 20 in some embodiments, whilein some other embodiment, they may also be designed and configuredaccording to other different requirements, such as being arranged at asingle side or two sides thereof, so as to be in cooperation with theposition of the photosensitive element 20, the position of electricallyconnecting elements 203 and the shape of the light filter holder 40.Thus, the utilization of the space above the base board 121 is optimizedthat substantially reduces the size of the camera module as much aspossible. However, the person of ordinary skilled in the art shallunderstand that the position and configuration of the electroniccomponents 122 are not limited in the above-mentioned embodiment of thepresent invention. It is still worth mentioning that, because thepositions of the electronic components 122 may be different, theelectronic components 122 in a sectional view may not be presented, ormay be shown with only on one side. For facilitating the understandingand description, the electronic components 122 are merely shown in thepresented drawings of the present invention for examples. However, theillustration and presentation shall not be interpreted as a limitationin the present invention.

More specifically, the base board 121 has a top surface 1211 which isfacing towards the lens 30 and a bottom surface 1212 which is oppositeto the lens 30. The photosensitive element 20 has a front surface 201which is facing towards the lens 30 and a back surface 202 which isopposite to the lens 30 and is arranged above the top surface 1211 ofthe base board 121. The photosensitive element 20 is electronicallyconnected to the base board 121 through at least one electricallyconnecting element 203 which can be but not limited to gold wire, silverwire, copper wire and aluminum wire. The electrically connectingelements 203 can be arranged at one side, two sides, three sides or foursides of the photosensitive element 20. According to some drawings ofthe present invention, the electrically connecting elements 203 areillustrated to be arranged at four sides of the photosensitive element20. However, in other embodiments, the electrically connecting elements203 may be arranged at one side, two sides or three sides of thephotosensitive element 20. The person of ordinary skilled in the artshall understand that the number, position, and type of the electricallyconnecting elements 203 have no limitation in the present invention.

The photosensitive element 20 can be installed on the base board,through a process which can be but not limited to a SMT (Surface MountTechnology) process or a COB (Chip On Board) process, by electricallyconnecting the photosensitive element 20 with the base board 121 viagold wires or the like. Of course, in other embodiments, thephotosensitive element 20 may be connected to the base board via otherconnecting manners, such an embedding manner or a FC (Flip Chip) manner.The person of ordinary skilled in the art shall understand that theconnecting and installing manner between the photosensitive element 20and the circuit board 12 is not limited in the present invention.

More specifically, the front surface 201 of the photosensitive element20 has a photosensitive area 2011 and a non-photosensitive area 2012positioned around the photosensitive area 2011. The photosensitive area2011 is used for a photosensitive performance in which light signals areconverted into electrical signals, and the non-photosensitive area 2012is electrically connected to the circuit board 12 by the connectingelements 203 for transmitting the electrical signals to the circuitboard 12. The lens 30 is optically coupled with the photosensitiveelement 20 in such a manner that a light axis is coaxially arranged, sothat the light beams passing through the lens 30 can reach thephotosensitive element 20 via the light window 111, and then undergo alight conversion process by the photosensitive element 20 the electricalsignals are transmitted to the circuit board 12, so that the cameramodule 100 is able to capture image information.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 , the light filer 50 of the camera module 100,which is used for filtering the light beams passing through the lens 30,can be but not limited to IR cut filter, blue glass light filter, waferlevel IR cut filter, light filter of full spectrum, and light filter forfiltering visible light. The light filter 50 is installed at the lightfilter holder 40 and is positioned along the light passage of thephotosensitive element 20. The camera module may further comprise anactuator 60, such as a voice coil motor or a piezoelectric motor. Thelens 30 is installed with the actuator 60, so as to form an AF (AutoFocus) camera module. The actuator 60 comprises at least one pin 61which is arranged for operatively connecting the actuator 60 with thecircuit board 12. The at least one pin 61 can be embodied as a singlepin, double pins, a single row of pins, or double rows of pins. In thedrawings of the present invention, two pins are illustrated, but it isnot a limitation to the present invention. The pin 61 is usuallypositioned adjacent to the edge of circuit boar 12. FIG. 3 is asectional view along line A-A and is corresponding to the sectional viewof FIG. 2 . The pin 61 actually is not shown in the sectional view ofFIG. 2 , but for easy to comprehend and describe, broken lines are usedto illustrate the existence of the pins 61 in the correspondingsectional views. The person of ordinary skilled in the art shallunderstand that the type, shape and position of the pins 61 have nolimitation in the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 4 , the light filer 50 is installed in the lightfilter holder 40 and is positioned inside the light window 111 of theintegral base 11. The integral base 11 of the integral base assembly 10has a top surface 113, and the light filter holder 40 is installed tothe top surface 113 of the integral base 11 while the actuator 60 isinstalled at the light filter holder 40. According to this embodiment ofthe present invention, the top surface 113 of the integral base is madea flat surface. In other words, the integral base 11 forms a flat stepstructure without protrusion step, and the light filter holder 40 isinstalled at the flat step structure. It is worth mentioning that inthis configuration, the top surface 113 of the integral base 11 isflatly extended with no apparent bending angles are formed, so thatduring the integral packaging process, such as a molding process, arelative flat installing surface with no blurs is obtained, so as toprovide a relatively good flat installing condition for the light filterholder 40.

It is worth mentioning that the light filter 50, such as a blue glasslight filter, is fragile and easy to be damaged, but very expensive, sothat it is also very important for protecting the light filter 50 duringthe manufacturing process of the camera module. In the presentinvention, the integral base 11 is manufactured through the moldingprocess such as an injection molding process, a transfer moldingprocess, a press molding process, or a compression molding process. Thematerial of the light filter holder 40 is not limited, as long as astrength thereof is enough to support the light filter 50. Preferably,the light filter holder 40 and the integral base 11 can be manufacturedby different processes. For example, the light filter holder 40 isformed in an injection molding process, a transfer molding process, or apress molding process, and the integral base 11 is manufactured by atransferring compression molding process, so that different materialscan be respectively used for manufacturing the light filter holder 40and the integral base 11, and thus the light filter holder 40 and theintegral base 11 are respectively provided with different rigidness andsurface flexibility. For example, the light filter holder 40 may have abetter flexibility, so that when the light filter 50 is installed at thelight filter holder 40, it bears less impact force comparing with thesituation when the light filter 50 is installed at the integral base 11,and thus the light filter holder 40 is actually more beneficial forinstalling the light filter 50 to avoid the damage or smash of the lightfilter 50. In other words, the light filter holder 40 can relieve aninfluence of outer impact to the light filter 50, such as to avoid theimpact when the light filter 50 is directly adhered to the integral base11.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40 has at least onesupporting groove 41 provided in a top side for installing the lightfilter 50 and at least one engaging groove 42 provided in a bottom sidefor installing with the integral base 11. The supporting groove 41 iscommunicated with the light window 111 for defining a receiving opening411 for receiving the light filter 50. The engaging groove 42 iscircularly arranged along a bottom periphery of the light filter holder40. In other words, the light filter holder 40 has the receiving opening411 for receiving the light filter 50, so that the light filter 50 isarranged along the photosensitive path of the photosensitive element 20.

It is worth mentioning that the light filter 50 is installed in thesupporting groove 41, so that a relative height thereof with respect tothe light filter holder 40 is reduced, wherein the light filter 50 willnot protruded above the light filter holder 40 or merely has a relativesmall portion protruding from the light filter holder 40. Therefore, itwill not increase the overall height of the camera module 100, and thelight filter 50 is also not easy to have contact with the lens 50 or theactuator 60.

In other words, the supporting groove 41 forms an inner enclosing space,so that it is convenient to install the light filter 50 within the lightfilter holder 40 in the light path of the photosensitive element 20. Theengaging groove 42 forms an outer surrounding space for engaging withthe integral base 11, and the integral base 11 provides an installingposition for the light filter holder 40.

More specifically, the engaging groove 42 is shaped and configured tocouple with the integral base 11, so that the light filter holder 40 isfirmly installed at the integral base 11.

More specifically, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 4 , the light filterholder 40 comprises a light filter holder body 43 having a receivingopening 411 defined therein, at least one inward extending arm 44 and atleast one downward extending arm 45 which is extended downwardly from atleast a portion of an inner side surrounding and defining the receivingopening 411, that is longitudinally extended from the light filterholder body 43, wherein the at least one inward extending arm 44extended inwardly from the downward extending arm 45 so as to ensure theinstalling position of the light filter 50 within the light window 111.The inward extending arm 44 is transversely extended from the downwardextending arm 45 for providing a horizontal (transversal) installingposition to the light filter 50, so that a light axis of the light filer50 and a light axis of the photosensitive element are coaxiallyarranged. According to the embodiment shown in the drawings, the lightfilter holder 40 comprises four integrally connected inward extendingarms 44 and four integrally connected downward extending arms 45, thefour inward extending arms 44 and the four downward extending arms 45are integrally extended from, front, back, left and right, four sidepositions to form the ring shaped integral light filter holder 40.

In other words, the downward extending arms 45 are integrally extendedfrom the inner sides of the light filter holder body 43 to define theouter engaging groove 42 at the bottom side of the light filter holderbody 43, so as to engage with the integral base 11. The inward extendingarms 44 are transversely and integrally extended from the inner sides ofthe downward extending arms 45 inwardly and respectively to define thesupporting groove 41 above the inward extending arms 44 and surroundingby the downward extending arms 45 for supporting the light filter 50.

In one embodiment, the engaging groove 42 of the light filter holder 40is shaped corresponding to the shape of the light window 111 of theintegral base 11. The shape of the supporting groove 42 is matched withthe shape of the light filter holder 50. Particularly, the light filter50 has a square structure, and the supporting groove 42 is illustratedin the top view to have a ring shape, such as a square ring shape.

The light filter holder 40 provides the receiving opening 411 forreceiving the light filter 50 so that the light filter 50 is positionedin the photosensitive path of the photosensitive element 20. Morespecifically, the light filter holder body 43 and the downward extendingarms 45 form the receiving opening 411 therebetween. In other words, theextending length of each inward extending arm 44 determines therequiring smallest area of the light filter 50. It is worth mentioningthat the packaging portion 1 as shown in FIG. 1A is unable to integrallyform the inward extending arms 44 of the present invention by thepackaging process, so that a light filter 4 with relatively larger sizeis required, or it requires a relative larger light filter in comparisonwith the light filter 4 used with the conventional holder 7 adhered tothe circuit board 2 as shown in FIG. 1B. However, in the presentinvention, since each inward extending arm 44 is inwardly extended, therequiring size for the light filter 50 is reduced, and thus theadvantages of the light filter holder 40 and the benefits of theintegral packaging technology are incorporated into the presentinvention.

For example, as shown in FIG. 2 , L denotes a distance between twoopposite inward extending arms 44, and the dimension of the light filter50 is only required to be slightly larger than L. The light filter 50can be simply supported at the inward extending arms 44 instead of beingsupported at the integral base body 112, so that the requiring size ofthe light filter 50 is reduced according to the present invention.

It is worth mentioning that the extending distance of each downwardextending arm 45 controls a downward distance of the light filter 50 tobe installed within the light window 111, and the inward extendingdistance of each inward extending arm 44 controls the size and topsurface area of the light filter 50. For example, when the extendingdistance of each the downward extending arm 45 is larger, the deeper ofthe light filter 40 can be installed in the light window 111, and theshorter of the distance between the light filter 50 and thephotosensitive element 20, so that the back focus length of the cameramodule also can be configured smaller. When the extending distance ofeach inward extending arm 44 is larger, the smaller size of thereceiving opening 411 of the light filter holder 40 is formed, and thesmaller of top surface area of the light filter is required too, so thatit is more convenient to obtain a suitable light filter 50 for thepresent invention, that not only facilitates the assembling process butalso reduces the cost of the camera module 100. Of course, the downwardextending distance of each downward extending arm 45 should alsoconsider the image quality of the camera module, such as avoiding darkspots such as image of dusts while reducing the back-focus length. Theextending distance of the inward extending arms 44 also shall considerthe light path of the camera module 100, the layout of thephotosensitive area 2011 and non-photosensitive area 2012 of thephotosensitive element 20, as well as the margin width of the circuitboard 12. For instance, when each inward extending arm 44 extendsinwardly, in the condition that a relatively smaller the light filter 50is used, each inward extending arm 44 should also not block thephotosensitive area 2011 of the photosensitive element 20, so as toprevent excessive blocking of the light flux, wherein for circuit board12 having more remaining space after packaging, the inward extendingarms 44 can extend more to position of such remaining space, and forcircuit 12 having less remaining space wider space after packaging, theinward extending arms 44 can extend less, so as to reduce the size ofthe light filter 50 the most while ensuring the imaging quality of thecamera module.

The light filter holder 40 is shaped to couple with and corresponding tothe integral base 11. In some embodiments, the integral base 11 has asubstantially regular symmetrical structure, such as a square ringshape. Accordingly, as the light filter holder 40 is constructed to havea symmetrical configuration in which the light filter holder body 43 hasa symmetrical structure, each of the inward extending arms 44 has auniform shape, and each of the downward extending arms 45 has a uniformshape too. According to some other embodiments, because of the positionsof the electronic components to be embedded are different, the integralbase 11 may have inward protruding portions of different widths.Accordingly, the light filter holder body 43 may be provided withcorresponding grooves or protrusions, or the lengths of the inwardextending arms 44 are different, so as to adapt the shape of theintegral base 11 and the position of the photosensitive element 20, inorder to facilitate the installation of the light filter 50.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder 40 can be adheredto the integral base 50 by adhering glue, and the thickness of the gluecan be adjusted and controlled to ensure the flatness of the lightfilter holder 40.

It is worth mentioning that the integral base 11 is sealedly packaged onthe top surface 1211 of the circuit board 12 according to thisembodiment of the present invention. However, in other embodiments ofthe present invention, the molded integral base 11 can also be extendedto a side surface and/or a bottom surface of the circuit board 12. Theperson of ordinary skilled in the art should understand that theintegral packaging area of the integral base 11 is not limited in thepresent invention.

According to some embodiments, during the assembling process of theintegral base assembly 10 and the light filter holder 40 of the cameramodule 100, as shown in FIG. 4 , the integral base 11 is firstly formedon the base board 121. Then, the light filter 50 is installed at thelight filter holder 40. Finally, the light filter holder 40 with thelight filter 50 are installed at the integral base 11. Accordingly, theinstallation of the light filter 50 can be achieved relativelyconvenient.

It is worth further mentioning that the base board 121 is a flat boardaccording to this embodiment of the present invention, thephotosensitive element 20 is attached to the top surface 1211 of thebase board 121. In another embodiment, the base board 121 may have anindented receiving slot, and the photosensitive element 20 can bereceived in the receiving slot, so as to reduce a height of the portionof the photosensitive element 20 protruding above the base board 121. Instill another embodiment, the base board 121 may have a through holepenetrating through the thickness of the base board 121, and thephotosensitive element 20 is received within the through hole, whereinthe relative position of the photosensitive element 20 with respect tothe base board 121 is adjustable that, for example, the top surface ofthe photosensitive element 20 may be in the same plane of the topsurface 1211 of the base board 121, or the bottom surface of thephotosensitive element 20 may be in the same plane of the bottom surface1212 of the base board 121. In another embodiment, the base board 121may have a passage which has a step structure, and the photosensitiveelement 20 is installed in the passage through a flip chip manner. Inanother embodiment, the base board 121 may have a reinforcing hole, andthe molded portion which is the integral base 11 may be extended intothe reinforcing hole so as to increase the structural strength of theintegral base assembly 10. In another embodiment, the circuit board 12may comprise a back board which is overlapped at a bottom side of thebase board 121 with a relatively thinner thickness to enhance thestructural strength of the integral base assembly 10 and the heatdissipation performance, wherein the back board can be but not limitedto a metal plate. In another embodiment, the integral base assembly 10may comprise an electromagnetic shielding layer which is coated at theoutside of the integral base 11 or is provided around the inner side ofthe integral base 11 or integrally inside the integral base 11, so as toincrease the anti-electromagnetic interference performance. In someother embodiments, the circuit board 12 may have other alternativemodes, so as to add different performances for the integral baseassembly 10. However, the person of ordinary skilled in the art shouldunderstand that the structural alternative modes of the circuit board 12are not limitations to the scope of the present invention.

According to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention,the light filter holder 40 is installed at the integral base 11, theactuator 60 is installed at the light filter holder 40, as shown inFIGS. 2 to 4 . In other words, the light filter holder 40 is providedbetween the actuator 60 and the integral base 11. In another preferredembodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 5 , the lightfilter holder 40 and the actuator 60 can be installed on the top surface113 of the integral base 11. More specifically, the light filter holder40 is installed to the integral base 11 at a position adjacent to theinner side of the integral base 11, while the actuator 60 is installedto the integral base 11 at a position adjacent to the outer side of theintegral base 11, so that the actuator 60 and the light filter holder 40coordinate to share the top surface 113 of the integral base 11.

It is worth mentioning that the camera module 100 according the abovepreferred embodiment of the present invention comprises the actuator 60and the lens 30 is installed at the actuator 60 so as to form an AFcamera module which is capable of automatic adjusting its focus length.In another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 6 , thecamera module 100 may not comprise the actuator 60, so that a FF (FixFocus) camera module is provided, and the lens 30 may be directlyinstalled at the light filter holder 40. The person of ordinary skilledin the art should understand that the type of the camera module 100 isnot limited in the present invention.

It is understandable for the person of ordinary skilled in the art thatthe light filter holder 40 can be manufactured by using themanufacturing process of the conventional holder, and the specificationof the light filter holder 40 is designed according to the specificationof the integral base 11. For instance, the light filter holder 40 ismanufactured through an injection molding process, a transfer moldingprocess, a press molding process, or other assembling process such as anadhering process.

It is worth mentioning that the parts of the light filter holder 40,i.e. the light filter holder body 43, the inward extending arms 44 andthe downward extending arms 45 can be made of the same material and areintegrally formed as an integral body, or can be made of differentmaterials integrally connected together. In order to facilitate thedescription, different shadows are used to represent different parts,but are not intended to be interpreted as a limitation to the materialand the structure of the light filter holder 40.

It is still worth mentioning that the light filter holder 40 can be usedfor installing the light filter 50, and also can be used for installingthe lens 30 or the actuator 60. The person of ordinary skilled in theart should understand that the components installed to the light filterholder 40 are not restricted.

Referring to FIG. 7 , an alternative mode of the integral base assemblyand the light filter holder according to the first preferred embodimentof the present invention is illustrated. In this alternative mode, theinner surface of the integral base 11A is inclinedly extended frombottom to top to form the light window 111A having a graduallyincreasing size along the light path. More specifically, the integralbase 11A has an inner surface 114A which defines an inclination angle αwith respect to the longitudinal light axis of the camera module 100, sothat an opening of the light window 111A has increasing size thatfacilitates, the manufacture of the integral base 11A. The inclinationangle α has a range of 3°˜30°. In some embodiments, the value of theinclination angle α is within 3°˜15°, 15°˜20°, or 20°˜30°.Correspondingly, the engaging groove 42A of the light filter holder 40Adefines an engaging angle α1 which is corresponding to the inclinationangle α, so that the shape of the engaging groove 42A adapts theinclined shape of the inner surface 114A, and thus the light filterholder 40A can be more stably installed.

In other words, each downward extending arm 45A is longitudinally,inclinedly and downwardly extended from the light filter holder body 43Aso as to define the engaging angle α1 corresponding to the inclinationangle α. Each inward extending arm 44A is transversely (horizontally)extended from the light filter holder body 43A to define a supportingangle β which is larger than 90°, so as to facilitate the assembly ofthe light filter 50. Of course, the integral base 11 having theinclination angle α also be installed with the light filter holder 40which does not form the engaging angle α1 and the supporting angle β.

As shown in FIG. 8A, a second alternative mode of the integral baseassembly and the light filter holder according to the above firstpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The lightfilter holder 40B has a supporting groove 41B communicated with thelight window 111 of the integral base 11B for providing an installationsite for the light filter 40. In other words, the light filter 50 isinstalled at the supporting groove 41B.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40B comprises a light filterholder body 43B and at least one inward extending arm 44B which istransversely, integrally and inwardly extended from a lower portion ofan inner side the light filter holder body 43B to define the supportinggroove 41B thereon. The light filter holder body 43B is connected on theintegral base 11.

In other words, the light filter holder 40B does not comprise thedownward extending arm 45 and does not have the engaging groove 42 asprovided in the first preferred embodiment. Therefore, the installationsite of the light filter 50 may not be downwardly located within thelight window 111. However, through the inward extending distance of eachinward extending arm 44B, the top surface area and the size of the lightfilter 50 also can be reduced, wherein the light filter 50 is receivedin the supporting groove 41, so that the relative height of the lightfilter 50 with respect to the light filter holder 40B is reduced.

FIG. 8B illustrates another alternative example of the secondalternative mode of the integral base assembly and the light filterholder according to the above first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The light filter holder 40B1 has a supporting groove 41B1 andan attaching groove 48B1 for providing assembling sites for the lens 30and the light filter 50 respectively.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40B1 comprises a light filterholder body 43B1 and at last one inward extending arm 44B1 which istransversely, integrally and inwardly extended from an inner side of thelight filter holder body 43B1 to define the supporting groove 41B1 ontop of the inward extending arm 44B1 and the attaching groove 48B1 belowthe inward extending arm 44B1. The light filter holder 40B1 furtherprovide a lens supporting portion 49B1 integrally and upwardly extendedfrom the light filter holder body 43B1 to define the supporting groove41B1 therein for receiving the lens 30 to install on top of each inwardextending arm 44B1. According to this alternative example, the lightfilter 50 is received in the attaching groove 48B1 and attached at abottom side of each inward extending arm 44B1.

Furthermore, in this alternative example of the present invention, thelens supporting portion 49B1 has a flat inner surface without screwingthreads for installing the lens 30 without engaging screw threads.

In other words, when the camera module 100 is a Fix Focus camera module,the lens 30 can be directly installed within the light filter holder40B1, so as to retain the lens 30 in position. Particularly, there maybe gap between the lens 30 and the lens supporting portion 49B1, so asto facilitating the assembly and adjustment of the lens 30 before thelens 30 is fixed.

FIG. 8C illustrates another alternative example of the secondalternative mode of the integral base assembly and the light filterholder according to the above first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. The light filter holder 40B2 has a supporting groove 41B2 andan attaching groove 48B2 for providing assembling positions for the lens30 and the light filter 50 respectively.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40B2 comprises a light filterholder body 43B2 and at least one inward extending arm 44B2 which istransversely, integrally and inwardly extended from an inner side of thelight filter holder body 43B2 to define the supporting groove 41B2 ontop of each inward extending arm 44B2 and the attaching groove 48B2below each inward extending arm 44B2. The light filter holder 40B2further comprises a lens supporting portion 49B2 which is integrally andupwardly extended from the light filter holder body 43B2 to define thesupporting groove 41B2 therein for receiving the lens 30. According tothis alternative example, the light filter 50 is received in theattaching groove 48B2 and attached to a bottom side of each inwardextending arm 44B2.

Furthermore, in this embodiment of the present invention, the lenssupporting portion 49B2 has an inner screwing structure for installingthe lens 30 with engaging screw threads.

In other words, when the camera module 100 is a Fix Focus camera module,the lens 30 can be directly installed within the light filter holder40B2, so as to screw the lens 30 in position by means of the innerscrewing structure.

It is worth mentioning that in the above two embodiments, the possiblealternative modes and alternative examples of the light filter holderillustrating that the lens 30 can be directly installed in the lightfilter holder 40B1 or 40B2 are exemplary only but are not a limitationto the scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 9A, a third alternative mode of the light filterholder according to the first preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. In this embodiment, the light filter holder 40has at least one corner opening 441C which is provided at a cornerposition thereof, for facilitating the assembling of the light filter 50and reducing the edge shadow of the image of the camera module resultingfrom a sharp corner. More specifically, each corner opening 441C isformed between two adjacent inward extending arms 44C, and is extendedoutwardly so as to increase the light flux at the corner position of thelight filter holder 40 of the camera module. In other words, the twoadjacent inward extending arms 44C form the corner opening 441Ctherebetween which is communicated to outside so as to increase lightflux at the corner opening 441C of the light filter holder 40, and thusthe edge shadow is reduced.

More specifically, in one embodiment, the corner opening 441C is anexpanded square corner opening. For example, but not limiting, the lightfilter holder 40 has four such expanded square corner openings at thefour corner positions thereof respectively. In other embodiments, eachcorner opening 441C may be a corner opening with an arc angle so as toincrease the light flux at the respective corner of the light filterholder 40. Of course, in some embodiments, there may not have suchcorner openings 441C provided. The person of ordinary skilled in the artshould understand that the shape, number, and position of the corneropenings 441C are not limited in the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 9B, another alternative mode according to the abovefirst preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Thelight filter holder 40 comprises at least one retaining protrusion 46Pwhich is at least partially, protrudedly, and upwardly extended from thetop of the light filter holder body 43, so as to retain an installedcomponent or prevent dusts or lights from reaching the inner space ofthe camera module. For example, but not limiting, each retainingprotrusion 46P is used for retaining the actuator 60 or the lens 30 inposition. Particularly, in one embodiment, the retaining protrusion 46Pis provided at a middle position of the holder body 43 for dividing theholder body 43 into inner and outer portions, wherein the outer portionis used for installing the actuator 60 while the inner part is used forinstalling the lens 30. In such a configuration, each retainingprotrusion 46P is adapted to retain the actuator 60 in position, so asto decrease the deviation of the actuator 60. In addition, during theassembling process, the retaining protrusion 46P can prevent the glueused for installing the actuator 60 from overflowing into the innerspace to contaminate the lens or other inner components. Particularly,the retaining protrusion can be a ring shaped protrusion so as tointegrally retaining the actuator 60 in position and block the glue fromoverflowing into the inner space.

It is worth mentioning that according to other embodiments of thepresent invention, a surface of the retaining protrusion 46P can beprovided with screwing threads for directly installing the lens 40. Andwhen the retaining protrusion 46P is provided with screwing threads atan outer side thereof, it is suitable for coupling with the lens 30 witha relatively large pore diameter.

Referring to FIGS. 10A to 11 , an integral base assembly according to asecond preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Theintegral base 11D comprises a base body 112D with at least one lightwindow 111D therein for providing a light passage for the photosensitiveelement 20. More specifically, the base body 112D has at least oneopening 1121D which communicates the light window 111D to outside, andthe light filter holder 40D is supplemental to cover the opening 1121Dso as to form the light window 111D with closed and sealed sidesurfaces.

In other words, in this second embodiment, the base body 112D is not acomplete enclosure structure, but has the opening 1121D at one sidethereof, and the light filter holder 40D provides a supplemental meansto seal and close the opening 1121D of the base body 112D.

The light filter holder 40D comprises at least one extending leg 433D asthe supplemental means which is integrally and downwardly extended fromthe light filter holder body 43D to the base board 121, so as to sealand close the opening 1121D. For example, but not limiting, theextending leg 433D is connected to the base board 121 and/or the basebody 112 by, for example, adhering.

More specifically, the base body 112D forms a U-shaped structure, andthe body of the light filter holder 40D is engaged with the U-shapedbase body 112D, and the extending leg 433D is adapted to be fittinglypositioned at the opening 1121D of the U-shaped structure so as to forma closed structure of the integral base 11D, so that a sealed and closedinner environment is formed within the integral base 11D.

In other words, in this second embodiment, the integral base 11D and thelight filter holder 40D are combined to achieve the holder function ofthe camera module, so that the advantages of integral encapsulatingprocess and the function of the light filter holder 40D are allincorporated in the present invention.

It is worth mentioning that since the compact size requirement of thecamera module is greater and greater, the layout of the electroniccomponents 122 of the circuit board 12, the positions of theelectronically connecting elements 203, and the packaging positions ofthe integral base 11 should be properly configured. That is while fullyutilizing the base board 121, the occupying areas of these componentsshould be as small as possible, so as to reduce the overall size of thecamera module. According to this second embodiment of the presentinvention, the integral base 11 is integrally molded and packaged at thepositions of the electronic components 122 that not only utilizes thespace around and locations of the electronic components 122 by embeddingall the electronic components 122 to form the integral base 11, but alsoreduces the electromagnetic interference between the electroniccomponents 122 and the electrically connecting elements 203. Inaddition, at one side of the base board 121 where has no electroniccomponent being provided, the extending leg 433D of the light filterholder 40D is provided to fully utilize the remaining space and positionof the base board 121. On the other hand, during the adhering procedureof the light filter holder 40D, a flatness of the integral base 11D canbe adjusted and complemented, so as to ensure a good installingcondition for the camera module.

It is still worth mentioning that the base board 121 is provided withthe photosensitive element 20, the electronic components 122, theelectronically connecting elements 203, the integral base 11D, and thelight filter holder body 40D, wherein the electronic components 122, theelectronically connecting elements 203, the integral base 11D, and thelight filter holder body 40D are provided around the outer periphery ofthe photosensitive element 20. In other words, the base board 121 has aplurality of installing regions 1213 positioned around the outer sidesof the photosensitive element 20. In order to increase the spaceutilization rate of the base board 121, the electronic components 122are provided at the installing regions 1213 at one side or two sides ofthe base board 121. And the installing regions 1213 with the electroniccomponents 122 provided thereon are integrally packaged by the integralbase 11D, so as to embed the electronic components 122 in the integralbase 11D. The regions having no electronic component provided thereonand/or the regions adjacent to the installing regions 1213 for theelectronic connecting element 133 can be used for connecting with thelight filter holder 40D, so that the light filter holder is able toutilize such narrow space and position, and that the light filter holder40D and the integral base 11D are cooperatively combined to form thelight window 111D, so as to provide the light passage for thephotosensitive element 20. In other words, the photosensitive element 20may not be provided at a center location of the base board 121, but canbe deviated to be located near one side of the base board 121, so thatinstalling regions 1213 with different widths are formed to facilitatethe electronic components 122 to be grouped together and installed whilethe molded integral base 11D with the electronic components 122 sealedlyembedded therein can substantially avoid electromagnetic interferenceamong the electronic components 122. Furthermore, the extending leg 433Dof the light filter holder 40D according to this embodiment is connectedto the relative narrower region that has no electronic component andelectric connecting element provided thereon, while the relative widerregions are used for installing the electronic components 122 and theelectrically connecting elements 203, as well as for integrally formingthe integral base 11D to embed the electronic components 122. Forexample, the two opposing sides of the photosensitive element 20 have awidth W1 and a width W2 respectively, wherein W1 is smaller than W2, theregion having the width W1 is used for connecting the extending leg 433Dof the light filter holder 40D, and the region having the width W2 isused for providing the electronic components 122, so that the electroniccomponents 122 are grouped and gathered to provide at the widerregion(s) at the side(s) having the relatively wider width.

For example, but not limiting, in some embodiments, during theassembling of the integral base assembly 10, the photosensitive element20 is attached to the base board 121 in such a manner that installingregions 1213 of different widths by installing the photosensitiveelement at a position near and closer to one side of the base board 121,and then the electronic components are adapted to be installed at thewider regions. Furthermore, by means of integral packaging, the integralbase 11D is integrally molded to form at the installing regions 1213provided with the electronic components 122 and to embed thoseelectronic components 122 therein. Then, the light filter holder 40D isinstalled at the integral base 11D. In another embodiment, theelectronic components are adhered to predetermined positions, such asthe installing regions 1213, and then the integral base 11D is formedbefore installing the photosensitive element 20.

It is still worth mentioning that the light filter holder 40D can bemanufactured through the injection molding process. Therefore, incomparison with the forming process of the integral base 11D, arelatively smaller thickness is obtained. In other words, the thicknessd1 of the light filter holder 40D is smaller than the thickness d2 ofthe integral base 11D, so that the installing regions 1313 of the baseboard 121 with different thickness can be reasonably utilized.

As shown in FIGS. 12A to 13A, an alternative mode of the integral baseassembly and the light filter holder according to the above secondpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Theintegral base 11E comprises a base body 112E with at least one lightwindow 111E for providing the light passage for the photosensitiveelement 20. More specifically, the base body 112E has two openings 1121Eat two sides thereof each communicating the light window 111E tooutside, wherein the light filter holder 40E covers the two openings1121E so as to sealingly close up two sides of the light window 111Ecorrespondingly.

Accordingly, the light filter holder 40E comprises two extending legs433E which are respectively, integrally and downwardly extended from thelight filter holder body 43E towards the base board 121 to close the twoopenings 1121E of the integral base 11E. For example, but not limiting,each extending leg 433E is connected to the base board 121 and/or thebase body 112E by adhering.

More specifically, according to one embodiment, the base body 112E ofthe integral base 11E is constructed to have a parallel structureincluding two pieces parallelly molded on two sides of the base board121 embedding the electronic components therein while defining the twoopenings 1121E at the other two sides of the base board 121, wherein thelight filter holder body 43E is sat on two pieces of the parallelstructure so as to engage with the base body 112E while the twoextending legs 443E of the light filter holder 40E are complementedextended downwardly to fittingly cover the two openings 1121E betweenthe two pieces of the parallel structure of the base body 112E, so thatthe base body 112E forms a sealed and closed inner environment as thelight window 111E defined between the two pieces of the parallelstructure of the base body 112E and the two extending legs 443E,communicating with the receiving opening of the light filter holder 40Eto form the light passage for photosensitive element 20.

Referring to FIGS. 13B to 13C, another alternative mode of the integralbase and the light filter holder according to the second preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this alternativemode, the integral base 11Q comprises a base body 112Q having at leastone light window 111Q provided therein for providing the light passagefor the photosensitive element 20. More specifically, the integral base11Q has two openings 1121Q formed at two middle portions of two sidesthereof respectively to communicate the light window 111Q to outside,wherein the light filter holder 40D provides means for covering the twoopenings 1121Q to sealingly close the side periphery of the light window111Q. Comparing with the above alternative mode as shown in FIGS. 12A to13A, the difference is that the two openings of this alternative modeare arranged at the middle portion of the opposite sides and constructedto have a reversed trapezoidal shape, so as to better and fittinglyretain and install the light filter holder 40Q in position. In otherwords, the two opening 1121Q divides the base body 112Q into twoopposite U-shaped members, and when the light filter holder 40Q isinstalled with the base body 112Q, the two members of the base body 121Qare joined and combined by the light filter holder 40Q sealingly.

Accordingly, the light filter holder 40Q comprises two extending legs433Q each is integrally and downwardly extended from the light filterholder body 43D to the base board 121, so as to seal and cover the twoopenings 1121Q respectively. More specifically, the two extending legs433Q are arranged at two opposite sides, and each of which has areversed trapezoidal structure for fittingly placing in and sealinglycovering the respective opening 1121Q. For example, when the lightfilter holder 40Q is being installed, each extending leg 433Q isretained at the corresponding opening 1121Q. In other words, eachopening 1121Q has a width size increasing from bottom to top and eachextending leg 433Q is gradually getting wider from bottom to top to fillup the corresponding opening 1121Q, so as to seal and close thecorresponding opening 1121Q.

Person of ordinary skilled in the art should understand that the shapeand size of the opening 1121Q in the embodiment of the present inventionis exemplary only but is not for limiting the invention.

Particularly, in some embodiments, the electronic components can becollectively arranged at just one side of the base board 121 and areembedded by at least a portion of the base body 112Q, and moreparticularly, they are embedded by the base body 112Q at a wider portionthereof. The other side of the base body 121 which is not provided withthe electronic components 122Q is corresponding to the relativelynarrower portion of the base body 112Q. The light filter holder 40Q isinstalled at the base body 112Q and the two extending legs 433Qfittingly fill up the two openings 1121Q provided between the twoopposing wider and narrower portions of the base body 112Q respectively.

Furthermore, the base body 112Q has at least one opening wall 1122Q,embodying two opening walls 1122Q defining the corresponding opening1121Q therebetween. Each opening wall 1122Q is inclinedly, integrallyand upwardly extended from the base board 121, so as to form thereversed trapezoidal shaped opening 1121Q. Correspondingly, eachextending leg 433Q has at least one complementary wall 4331Q which issized and shaped corresponding to the respective opening wall 1122Q, sothat the configuration of each extending leg 433Q is fitted to be filledin the respective opening 1121Q, so as to seal and close the peripheryof the opening 111Q. It is understandable that a gap may be remainedbetween the complementary wall 4331Q of each extending leg 433Q and thecorresponding opening wall 1122Q of the opening 112Q so as to adapt fora bonding material such as a glue to be applied in such gap. However,the size and existence of the gap should not be considered as alimitation to the present invention.

Particularly, the complementary wall 4331Q of each extending leg 433Qand the corresponding opening wall 1122Q of the base body 112Q aresecured and sealed together by the adhering glue.

Referring to FIG. 14 of the drawings, a camera module and its integralbase assembly and light filter holder according to a third preferredembodiment of the present invention are illustrated. The integral base11F further has an installing groove 115F provided facing andcommunicating with the light window 111F. According to this thirdembodiment of the present invention, the installing groove 115F is aring shaped communicating groove configured to install the light filterholder 40 thereat.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40 and the integral base 11Fare engaged with each other by sitting the outer portion of the lighterfilter holder 40 at the installing groove 115F of the integral base 11Fwhile the inner portion of the integral base 11F is engaged in theengaging groove 42 of the light filter holder 40, so that the lightfilter holder body 43 of the light filter holder 40 is received in theinstalling groove 115F and supported by the integral base 11F.

The light filter holder body 43 of the light filter holder 40 has apredetermined thickness, and it should not be in contact with anycomponents positioned above it, such as the actuator 60 or the lens 30.Preferably, when the light filter holder 40 is installed in theinstalling groove 115F, a top surface of the light filter holder 40 hasthe same plane with a top surface of the base body 112F, so that thelight filter holder 40 will not protrude from the base body 112F, andwill not have any contact with the actuator 60 or the lens 30 installedthereabove. Of course, according to other embodiments of the presentinvention, the top surface of the light filter holder 40 may also beprotruded out of the base body 112F, so as to fit with the actuators 60of different sizes and retain the corresponding actuator 60 in position,and that it can also prevent the glue for installing the actuator 60from overflowing into the interior of the camera module. However, thepresent invention is not limited in this aspect.

More specifically, the integral base 11F comprises a plurality ofprotrusion steps 116F which is protruded and extended from the base body112F to form the installing groove 115F. Accordingly, in otherembodiments, a circular integral protrusion step may be formed to definethe installing groove 115F.

According to this third embodiment of the present invention, theintegral base 11F comprises four protrusion steps 116F which areintegrally connected to form a square ring shaped protrusion structure.The actuator 60 has at least a portion installed at the protrusion steps116 to form an Auto Focus camera module. The actuator 60 is operativelyconnected to the circuit board 12 through at least one connecting pin61. In other embodiments, the lens 30 may have at least a portioninstalled at the protrusion steps 116F, so that a Fix Focus cameramodule is formed.

According to this third embodiment of the present invention, each theprotrusion step 116F has the same transversal width, and each thecorresponding installing groove 115F has the same width too.Correspondingly, the width of the light filter holder body 43 of thelight filter holder 40 can be designed according to the size of theinstalling groove 115, while the light filter holder body 432 has aconsistent width. According to some other embodiments of the presentinvention, the width of each the protrusion stair 116F can be variedaccording to different requirements. Accordingly, the width of the lightfilter holder body 43 can be varied corresponding to the varied width ofthe installing groove 115F.

Referring to FIGS. 15A and 15B, a camera module according to a fourthpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, whereinthe FIG. 15A is a sectional view viewed from a first direction and theFIG. 15B is a sectional view viewed from a second direction that isperpendicular from the first direction, so as to illustrate the foursides of the camera module. The integral base 11G has at least oneinstalling groove 115G provided facing and communicating with the lightwindow 111G and at least one notch 117G extended from the light window11G to outside so as to communicate the light window 111G with outside.In other words, the installing groove 115G is an open end communicatinggroove but not a close end structure. The light filter holder 40G isinstalled at the installing groove 115G. More specifically, in thisfourth embodiment, the installing groove 115G is a U-shaped groove, andthe opening of the U-shaped groove defines the notch 117G.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40G is engaged in theinstalling groove 115G of the integral base 11G, so that the lightfilter holder body 43G of the light filter holder 40G is received in theinstalling groove 115G and supported by the integral body 112G of theintegral base 11G.

The light filter holder body 43G of the light filter holder 40G has apredetermined thickness, and it should not be in contact with thecomponents positioned above it, such as the actuator 60 or the lens 30.Preferably, when the light filter holder 40G is installed at theinstalling groove 115G, a top surface of the light filter holder 40G hasthe same plane with a top surface of the base body 112G, so that thelight filter holder 40G will not protrude from the base body 112G, andwill not have any contact with the actuator 60 or the lens 30 installedthereabove.

More specifically, the integral base 11G comprises a plurality ofprotrusion steps 116G which is protruded and extended from the base body112G to form the installing groove 115G. Accordingly, at least one sideof the integral base 11G has no protrusion step 116G to form the notch117G.

According to this fourth embodiment of the present invention, theintegral base 11G comprises three such protrusion steps 116G which areintegrally connected to define the installing groove 1115G. In otherwords, the side with no protrusion step 116G defines the notch 117G, andmore specifically, the three protrusion steps 116G are integrally andtransversely connected to form a U-shaped protrusion structure.

The light filter holder body 43G of the light filter holder 40Gcomprises at least one engaging edge 431G adapted to be engaged with theinstalling groove 115G and at least one extending edge 432G adapted tobe filled into the notch 117G, as shown in FIG. 15B. In other words, theextending edge 432G is extended into the notch 117G to sealingly filland close up the notch 117G, so as to define a sealed and closed innerenvironment therein.

According to this fourth embodiment of the present invention, the lightfilter holder body 43G of the light filter holder 40G comprises threeengaging edges 431G and one extending edge 432G which are integrally andtransversely connected to adapt the corresponding shape of theinstalling groove 115G.

The downward extending arms 45G are respectively longitudinally extendedfrom the engaging edge 431G and the extending edge 432G, so as to formthe engaging groove 42G. Each inward extending arm 44G is transverselyand integrally extended from the downward extending arm 45G to form thesupporting groove 41G.

It is worth mentioning that the electronic components 122 are able to bearranged at different positions of the main body of the circuit board12, and the integral base 11G is molded to embed the electroniccomponents 122 therein. When configuring the positions of the electroniccomponents 122, the required thickness of the integral base 11G islarger, and it is convenient to form the installing groove 115G. And thepositions without electronic components 122 may have a relativelysmaller thickness, so as to reduce the size of the circuit board 12. Inthis fourth embodiment of the present invention, a portion of theintegral base 11G corresponding to the three engaging edges 431G isarranged with the electronic components 122, and this portion of theintegral base 11G has a larger transverse width, and the installinggroove 115G is formed. In addition, another portion of the integral base11G corresponding to the extending edge 432G has a smaller transversewidth, and is not used for forming the installing groove 115G, as shownin FIG. 15B. The extending edge 432G is used to fill the notch 117G tofunction as the protrusion step 116G.

The actuator 60 has at least a part installed at the protrusion steps116G, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. The actuator 60 isoperatively connected to the circuit board 12 through at least oneconnecting pin 61. In other embodiments, the lens 30 may have at least apart installed at the protrusion steps 116G, so that a Fix Focus cameramodule is formed.

More specifically, the actuator 60 has three edges which arerespectively installed at the protrusion steps 116G, and the remainingedge is installed at the extending edge 432G of the light filter holder40G. In some embodiments, a gap is formed between the actuator 60 andthe extending edge 432G for filling with adhering glue, so as to providea sealed and closed inner environment for the camera module. In otherwords, the height of a surface of the extending edge 432G is smallerthan the height of a surface of each protrusion step 116G, and the gluecan be used to make up the height difference. Particularly, the actuator60 is adhered to the protrusion stairs 116G while ensuring the lightaxis of the lens 30 is coaxially aligned with the light axis of thephotosensitive element 20.

As shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B, a camera module according to a fifthembodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the FIG. 16Ais a sectional view viewed from a first direction and the FIG. 16B is asectional view viewed from a second direction that is perpendicular fromthe first direction, so as to illustrate the four sides of the cameramodule.

The integral base 11H has at least one installing groove 115H providedthereon and communicated with the light window 111H. The light filterholder 40H is installed at the installing groove 115H. Morespecifically, each installing groove 115H forms a U-shaped structurewithout the notch as embodied in the above fourth preferred embodiment.

The light filter holder body 43H of the light filter holder 40Hcomprises at least one engaging edge 431H for sitting on and engagingwith the installing groove 115H.

According to this embodiment of the present invention, the light filterholder body 43H of the light filter holder 40H comprises three engagingedges 431H which are integrally and transversely connected with eachother to form a U-shaped structure with an opening, so as to adapt theshape of the U-shaped installing groove 115H.

Three downward extending arms 45H are longitudinally extended from thethree engaging edges 431H respectively, so as to engage with theinstalling groove 115H. Three inward extending arms 44H are transverselyand integrally extended from the three downward extending arms 45Hrespectively to define a U-shape supporting groove 41H, so as to providean installation site for the light filter 50. A difference between thisfifth embodiment and the above fourth embodiment is that each of theengaging groove 42H and the supporting groove 42H is a U-shapedstructure with an opening at one side thereof, and thus it is notconfigured to be a closed structure. In other words, when the lightfilter 50 is installed at the light filter holder 40H, as shown in FIG.16B, only three edges thereof are fixed and mounted in the U-shapesupporting groove 41H, and one remaining edge thereof is arranged tobias against an inner wall of the protrusion step 116H which is not usedfor forming the installing groove 115H.

It is worth mentioning that the electronic components 122 may bearranged at different positions of the main body of the circuit board12, and the integral base 11H is molded on the circuit board 12 to embedthe electronic components 122 therein. When configuring the positions ofthe electronic components 122, the required thickness of the integralbase 11H is larger, and that it is convenient to form the installinggroove 115H. Also, the positions without electronic components 122 mayhave a relatively smaller thickness, so as to reduce the size of thecircuit board 12, and these positions are not used for forming theinstalling groove 115H. In this fifth embodiment of the presentinvention, a portion of the integral base 11H corresponding to the threeengaging edges 431 H is arranged to embed the electronic components 122therein, and this portion of the integral base 11H has a largertransverse width, and the installing groove 115 H is formed. And,another portion of the integral base 11H corresponding to the protrusionstep 116H which is not used for forming the installing groove 115H has arelatively smaller transverse width.

The actuator 60 has at least a part installed at the protrusion steps116H, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. The actuator 60 isoperatively connected to the circuit board 12 through at least oneconnecting pin 61. In other embodiments, the lens 30 may have at least apart installed at the protrusion steps 116H, so that a Fix Focus cameramodule is formed.

More specifically, the actuator 60 has three sides installed at theprotrusion steps 116H which are used for forming the U-shape installinggroove 115H, and one remaining side of the actuator 60 is installed atthe protrusion step 116H which is not used for forming the installinggroove 115H, as shown in FIGS. 16A and 16B.

In other words, the difference between this fifth embodiment and theabove fourth embodiment is that, the light filter holder 40H of thisembodiment is not provided with the engaging edge 432G, but forms anopen U-shaped structure, and the protrusion steps 116H of the integralbase 11H are upwardly extended to form a closed U-shaped structure, andno notch 117G is formed.

Referring to FIGS. 17A and 17B, two sectional views illustrated fromdifferent directions, a camera module according to a sixth preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the twosectional views are respectively illustrated along two perpendiculardirections to illustrate four sides of the camera module. The differencebetween this sixth embodiment and the above fifth embodiment is that,the integral base 11I forms two protrusion steps 116H and two notches117I, and the protrusion steps 116I are transversely and integrallyconnected with each other to form a L-shaped installing groove 115I. Inother words, the two sides which are not formed with the protrusionsteps 116I are formed with the two perpendicular notches 117I.

The light filter holder body 43I of the light filter holder 40Icomprises at least one engaging edge 431I which is engaged with theinstalling groove 115I and at least one extending edge 432I which isextended into the notch 117I. In other words, the extending edge 432I isextended into and sits on the notch 117I that the notch 117I is filledwith the extending edge 432I, so that a sealed and closed innerenvironment is defined within the integral base 11I and the light filterholder body 43I which is installed on the integral base 11I.

According to this sixth embodiment of the present invention, the lightfilter holder body 43I of the light filter holder 40I comprises twoengaging edges 431I and two extending edge 432I which are integrally andtransversely connected to form an endless configuration and adapt theshape of the installing groove 115I.

Four downward extending arms 45I are respectively and longitudinallyextended from the two engaging edges 431I and the two extending edges432I, so as to form a ring shaped engaging groove 42I below the lightfilter holder body 43I. Four inward extending arms 44I are transverselyand integrally extended from the four downward extending arm 45Irespectively to define a ring shaped supporting groove 41I above theinward extending arms 44I.

Furthermore, the two protrusion steps 116I of the integral base 11I arejointed with each other perpendicularly, and the two engaging edges 431Iare jointed with each other perpendicularly, wherein the two notches areformed adjacent to each other perpendicularly. In other words, the twoprotrusion steps 116I from a L-shaped structure that defines a L-shapedinstalling groove 115I. The two notches 117I are adjacent to each otherto form a L-shaped structure. Accordingly, the two engaging edges 431Iof the light filter holder 40I which are adjacent to each otherperpendicularly are configured to adapt the L-shaped installing groove115I so that the two engaging edges 431I are configured to fittingly sitand mount in the installing groove 115I, and that the two extendingedges 432I are adjacent to each other perpendicularly to adapt theL-shaped notches, so that the two extending edges 432I are configured tofittingly sit and mount on the two notches respectively, so as to definea sealed and enclosed inner environment within the integral body 11I andthe light filter holder 40I.

The actuator 60 has at least a portion installed at the protrusion steps116I, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. The actuator 60 isoperatively connected to the circuit board 12 through at least oneconnecting pin 61. In other embodiments, the lens 30 may have at least aportion installed at the protrusion stairs 116I or the light filterholder body 43I, so that a Fix Focus camera module is formed.

More specifically, the actuator 60 has two sides respectively installedon top of the protrusion steps 116I, and the remaining two sides of theactuator 60 are installed on top of the extending edges 432I of thelight filter holder 40I.

As shown in FIGS. 18A and 18B, an alternative mode of the integral baseassembly and the light filter holder according to the above sixthpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. FIGS. 18Aand 18B are sectional views along two perpendicularly directions. Thedifference between this alternative mode and the above sixth embodimentis that, the two engaging edges 431J are formed at two opposite sideswhile the two notches are formed at two opposite sides. Accordingly, thetwo engaging edges 431J of the light filter holder 40J are opposite toeach other adapted for sitting and mounting in the installing groove115J formed at two opposing sides of the integral base 11J, and the twoextending edges 432J are opposite to each other adapted for sitting andmounting on the two notches 117J formed at another two opposing sides ofthe integral base 11J, so as to define a sealed and closed innerenvironment within the integral base 11J and the light filter holder40J.

Referring to FIGS. 19A and 19B, a camera module according to a seventhpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. FIGS. 19Aand 19B are sectional views along two perpendicularly directions. Thedifference between this seventh preferred embodiment and the above sixthpreferred embodiment and its alternative mode is that, the integral base11K comprises one protrusion step 116K and three notches 117K. Theprotrusion step 116K is partially, integrally and upwardly extended fromthe base body 112K to form the installing groove 115K. In other words,the three sides which are not formed with the protrusion step 116K areformed with the three notches 117K respectively.

The light filter holder body 43K of the light filter holder 40Kcomprises at least one engaging edge 431K engaged with the installinggroove 115I and at least one extending edge 432K filled into the notch117K. In other words, the extending edge 432K is extended and filledinto the respective notch 117K, so that a sealed and closed innerenvironment is defined within the integral base 11K and the light filterholder 40K.

According to this seventh embodiment of the present invention, the lightfilter holder body 43K of the light filter holder 40K comprises oneengaging edge 43K and three extending edges 432K which are integrallyand transversely connected to configure an endless structure adapted tofittingly sit and mount on top of a single installing groove 115K andthe three notches 117K.

Four downward extending arms 45K are respectively longitudinallyextended from the engaging edge 431K and the three extending edges 432Krespectively, so as to define the engaging groove 42K below the lightfilter holder body 43K. Four inward extending arms 44K is transverselyand integrally extended from the four downward extending arms 45Krespectively to define the supporting groove 41K above the inwardextending arms 44K.

The actuator 60 has at least a portion installed at the protrusion step116K, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. The actuator 60 isoperatively connected to the circuit board 12 through at least oneconnecting pin 61. In other embodiments, the lens 30 may have at least aportion installed at the protrusion step 116K, so that a Fix Focuscamera module is formed.

More specifically, the actuator 60 has one side supported at theprotrusion step 116K, and the remaining three sides of the actuator 60are respectively installed at the three extending edges 432K of thelight filter holder 40K.

As shown in FIGS. 20A to 21 , a camera module according to an eighthpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The cameramodule can be a Fix Focus camera module as shown in FIG. 20A or an AutoFocus camera module as shown in FIG. 20B. The difference between thiseighth embodiment and the above embodiments is that, the light filterholder 40L comprises an upward extending surrounding wall 46L which isupwardly extended from the light filter holder body 43L to form aretaining chamber 461L defined within the upward extending surroundingwall 46L for retaining an installed component(s), such as but notlimiting the actuator 60 and/or the lens 30. In other words, whenassembling the camera module, the actuator 60 and/or the lens 30 are/isinstalled in the retaining chamber 461L of the light filter holder 40L,so as to retain the actuator 60 and/or the lens 30 in position, and thelight axis of the actuator 60 or lens 30 is aligned coaxially with thelight axis of the photosensitive element 20. The size of the retainingchamber 461L is determined by the size and shape of the component to beinstalled.

In other words, the upward extending surrounding wall 46L performs aframe restricting function, so that when the actuator 60 or the lens 30is installed at the light filter holder 40, excessive deviation isprevented, so as to ensure the consistence of the optical system of thecamera module. At the same time, the upward extending surrounding wall46L also can protect the installed component such as the actuator 60 orthe lens 30, so as to avoid unwanted impacts, so that the actuator 60and/or the lens 30 are/is stably installed, and dusts from outside willbe blocked from entering the inner space of the camera module.

Furthermore, when the camera module is an Auto Focus camera module, asshown in FIG. 20B, the light filter holder 40 has at least one pinopening 462L for the connecting pin 61 of the actuator 60 to penetratetherethrough. In other words, when the actuator 60 is installed at theretaining chamber 461L of the light filter holder 40L, the connectingpins of the actuator 60 penetrate the corresponding pin openings 462Land are connected to the circuit board 12. Of course, when the cameramodule is a Fix Focus camera module, the light filter holder 40L may notneed to form such pin openings 462L. It is worth mentioning that the pinopening 462L may not been seen in a sectional view along a central line,but in order for easy comprehension and description, dotted lines areused for illustrating the possible positions of the pin opening 462L.Accordingly, the positions of the pin opening 462L should be determinedby the positions of the connecting pins 61, and are not limited in thepresent invention.

Referring to FIG. 22 , a camera module according to a ninth preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated. The differencebetween this ninth embodiment and the above embodiments is that, thelight filter holder 40M comprises an upward extending surrounding wall46M upwardly and integrally extended from the light filter holder body43M to form a retaining chamber 461M therein and an downward extendingsurrounding wall 47M which is downwardly and integrally extended fromthe light filter holder body 43M to define a lower housing chamber 471Mtherein. Particularly, the downward extending surrounding wall 47M isintegrally extended from the upward extending surrounding wall 46M toform an integral outer blocking wall around the light filter holder body43M.

The retaining chamber 461M is used for retaining an installed component,such as but not limiting the actuator 60 and/or the lens 30. The lowerhousing chamber 471M is used for receiving the integral base 11. Inother words, during assembling the camera module, the actuator 60 or thelens 30 is installed in the retaining chamber 461M of the light filterholder 40M so as to retain and protect the actuator 60 or the lens 30 inposition, and the light axis of the actuator 60 or lens 30 is alignedcoaxially with the light axis of the photosensitive element 20. Theintegral base 11 is received in the lower housing chamber 471M, and thedownward extending surrounding wall 47M protects the integral base 11,so that a regular integral structure of the camera module is achieved.Thus, it is easy to assemble and the aesthetic appearance is enhanced.The sizes of the retaining chamber 461M and the lower housing chamber471M can be determined by the size and shape of the components to beinstalled, such as the actuator 60, the lens 30 and the integral base11.

In one embodiment, the downward extending surrounding wall 47M can beextended to enclose the circuit board 12 too. For example, but notlimiting, the downward extending surrounding wall 47M is adhered to thecircuit board by a glue, so that the light filter holder 40M can be morestably installed.

Referring to FIG. 23 , a camera module according to a tenth preferredembodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

The integral base 11N comprises a lens barrel 118N which is at leastpartially and upwardly extended form the protrusion steps 116N to definea lens cavity 1181N therein for installing the lens 30, so as to form aFix Focus camera module, and a set of installing grooves 115N, includingan upper and a lower installing grooves.

More specifically, the protrusion steps 116N and the base body 112N formthe lower installing groove 115N for installing the light filter holder40. The lens barrel 118N and the protrusion steps 116N form anotherupper installing groove 115N for installing the lens 30. In other words,in this tenth embodiment, the integral base 11N has two installinggrooves 115N, wherein the lower installing groove 115N is used forinstalling the light filter holder 40, and the upper installing groove115N is used for installing the lens 30.

Furthermore, the engaging groove 42 of the light filter holder 40 iscoupled with the installing groove 115N, such that the light filterholder body 43 is sat in the lower installing groove 115N and supportedby the integral base 11N, wherein the light filter 40 is installed inthe supporting groove 41 of the light filter holder 40 and aligned alongthe light passage of the photosensitive element 20, and the lens 30 isinstalled in the upper installing groove 115N.

The lens barrel 118N integrally and upwardly extended from the integralbase 11N is used for providing an installation site of the lens 30 toretain the lens 30 in position, so that the light axis of the lens 30 isaligned coaxially with the light axis of the photosensitive element 20,and thus the installing accuracy thereof is enhanced.

FIG. 24 illustrates an application of the camera modules according tothe above preferred embodiments. The camera module 100 of the presentinvention can be incorporated into various electronic devices 300.Accordingly, the electronic device 300 comprises an electronic devicebody 200 and the camera module 100 is provided at the electronic devicebody 200 for cooperating with the electronic device body 200 to achievethe acquisition and reproduction of the images. The electronic device300 can be, but not limited to, a smart phone, a wearable device, acomputer device, a television, a transporting device, a digital camera,a monitoring device, and the like. The camera module 100 is incorporatedin the electronic device 300 to implement the image acquisition andimage reproduction of target objects. As shown in the drawings, thecamera module 100 is applied in a smart phone for aiding the phone tocapture and reproduce image information.

FIGS. 25 to 27 illustrate an array camera module according to aneleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention. The array cameramodule 1000 comprises two or more camera module units 100 cooperated toachieve a collection of image information. The array camera module 1000also can be applied into various electronic devices such as smart phone,wearable device, computer device, television, transporting device,digital camera, monitoring device, and etc. The array camera module 1000is equipped in the electronic device 300 to implement the imageacquisition and image reproduction of target objects.

It is worth mentioning that, in order to facilitating the description,in the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings, the arraycamera module 1000 is illustrated to comprise two camera modules 100. Inother words, a dual camera module is taken as an example forillustrating the array camera module. Accordingly, in other embodimentsof the present invention, the array camera module 1000 may comprisemultiple units, such as three or more than three units, and the cameramodule units 100 are arranged in an array, such as being arranged sideby side or parallel to each other, to form the array camera module 1000.

It is still worth mentioning that the camera modules 100 according tothe above first to the tenth embodiments of the present invention andthe camera modules with the combining features, or the equivalent cameramodules can be used for the camera module units 100 to form the arraycamera module 1000.

More specifically, each camera module unit 100 comprises an integralbase assembly 10, a photosensitive element 20, a lens 30, a light filterholder 40, and a light filter 50.

The integral base assembly 10 of each camera module unit 100 comprisesan integral base 11 and a circuit board 12, and the integral base 11 isintegrally packaged on the circuit board 12. For example, but notlimiting, the integral base 11 is molded to be integrally packaged onthe circuit board 12 through a molding process. The light filter holder40 is installed at the integral base 11 so that the integral base 11 andthe light filter holder 40 are cooperative to replace the conventionalholder or supporter of the conventional camera module, wherein aconventional packing process in which the holder or supporter has to beadhered to the circuit board by adhesive glue is not required. Thephotosensitive element 20 is operatively connected to the circuit board12. Accordingly, the photosensitive element 20 is electronicallyconnected to the circuit board 12 of the integral base assembly 10, thelight filter holder 40 is installed with the integral base assembly 10,and the lens 30 is positioned in a photosensitive path of thephotosensitive element 20.

The integral base 11 has a light window 111 therein and comprises a basebody 112 surrounding the light window 111, wherein the light window 111provides a light passage for the photosensitive element 20. Morespecifically, according to this eleventh embodiment, a periphery of thelight window 111 is defined and surrounded by the base body 112 toconstruct a closed enclosure so as to provide a sealed inner environmentfor the lens 30.

The circuit board 12 of each camera module unit comprises a base board121 and a plurality of electronic components comprising, but not limitedto, resistors, capacitors, drives and etc. which are formed on the baseboard through a SMT adhering process. According to this eleventhpreferred embodiment, the integral base 11 is integrally packaged on thebase board 121 to embed or enclose the electronic components 122 thereinso as to avoid a problem, as in the conventional camera module, that thedust and particles would adhere to electronic components 122 andadversely influence the image quality of the photosensitive element 20.It is understandable that in other embodiments, the electroniccomponents 122 may be embedded in the base board 121, i.e. theelectronic components 122 are not exposed to outside. The base board 121of the circuit board 12 can be PCB rigid board, PCB flexible board,rigid-flexible combination board, ceramics board, and etc. It is worthmentioning that, according to this eleventh preferred embodiment, theintegral base 11 can completely embed these electronic components 122,so that the electronic components 122 do not need to be embedded intothe base board 121, and the base board 121 is only used for formingelectrically conductive circuits, so that a thickness of the finallymanufactured integral base assembly 10 would be relatively smaller.

More specifically, the base board 121 has a top surface 1211 which isfacing towards the lens 30 and a bottom surface 1212 facing an oppositedirection against the lens 30. The photosensitive element 20 has a frontsurface 201 which is facing towards the lens 30 and a back surface 202facing the opposite direction against the lens 30 and is arranged abovethe top surface 1211 of the base board 121. The photosensitive element20 is electronically connected to the base board 121 through at leastone electrically connecting element 203 such as lead wire that can be,but not limited to, gold wire, silver wire, copper wire, and aluminumwire. The electrically connecting elements 203 can be arranged at oneside, two sides, three sides or four sides of the photosensitive element20. The photosensitive element 20 can be installed on the base boardthrough a process which can be, but not limited to, a SMT (Surface MountTechnology) process or a COB (Chip On Board) process by electricallyconnecting the photosensitive element 20 with the base board 121 viagold wires. Of course, in other embodiments, the photosensitive element20 may be connected to the base board via other connecting manners, suchan embedding manner or a FC (Flip Chip) manner. The person of ordinaryskilled in the art shall understand that the connecting and installingmanner between the photosensitive element 20 and the circuit board 12 isnot limited in the present invention.

More specifically, the front surface 201 of the photosensitive element20 has a photosensitive region 2011 and non-photosensitive region 2012positioned around the photosensitive region 2011. The photosensitiveregion 2011 is used for a photosensitive performance in which lightsignals are converted into electrical signals, and thenon-photosensitive region 2012 is arranged with the electricallyconnecting elements 203 for transmitting the electrical signals to thecircuit board 12. The lens 30 is optically coupled with thephotosensitive element 20 in such a manner that a coaxial light axis isarranged, so that the light beams passing through the lens 30 can reachthe photosensitive element 20 via the light window 111, and then undergoa light conversion process by the photosensitive element 20 so as totransmit the electrical signals to the circuit board 12, so that thecamera module 100 is able to capture an image information.

As shown in FIGS. 25A to 26 , the light filer 50 of each of the cameramodule units 100, which is used for filtering the light beams passingthrough the lens 30, can be but not limited to IR cut filter, blue glasslight filter, wafer level IR cut filter, light filter of full spectrum,and light filter for filtering visible light. Each camera module unit100 has its light filter 50 installed at its light filter holder 40 andpositioned in the light passage of its photosensitive element 20. Eachof the camera module units 100 may further comprise an actuator 60, suchas a voice coil motor or a piezoelectric motor, and its lens 30 isinstalled with the actuator 60, so as to form an AF (Auto Focus) cameramodule. The actuator 60 comprises at least one connecting pin 61 whichis arranged for operatively connecting the actuator 60 with the circuitboard 12. The at least one connecting pin 61 can be embodied as a singlepin, double pins, a single row of pins, or double rows of pins. In thedrawings of the present invention, two pins are illustrated, but it isnot a limitation to the scope of the present invention. The connectingpin 61 is usually positioned adjacent to the edge of circuit board 12.FIG. 26 is a sectional view along line A-A and is corresponding to thesectional view of FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B. The connecting pin 61 actuallycannot be seen in the sectional view of FIG. 25A and FIG. 25B, but foreasy to comprehend and describe, broken lines are used to illustrate theexistence of the pins 61 in the corresponding sectional views. Theperson of ordinary skilled in the art shall understand that the type,shape and position of the connecting pins 61 are not limited in thepresent invention.

Referring to FIGS. 25A to 27 , according to this eleventh embodiment ofthe present invention, for each camera module unit 100, the light filer50 is installed at the light filter holder 40 and is supporteddownwardly into the light window 111 of the integral base 11. Theintegral base 11 of the integral base assembly 10 of each camera moduleunit 100 has a top surface 113 and the light filter holder 40 issupported on the top surface 113 so as to installed on top of theintegral base 11, wherein the actuator 60 is installed on top of thelight filter holder 40. According to this eleventh embodiment of thepresent invention, the top surface 113 of the integral base of eachcamera module unit 100 is a flat surface. In other words, the integralbase 11 forms a flat step structure without protrusion step, and thelight filter holder 40 is installed at the flat step structure. It isworth mentioning that in this configuration, the top surface 113 of theintegral base 11 is flatly extended without any apparent bending anglebeing formed, so that during the integral packaging process, such as themolding process, a relative flat installing surface with no blurs isobtained, so as to provide a relatively good flat installing conditionfor the light filter holder 40.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40 of each camera module unit100 has at least one supporting groove 41 formed for installing thelight filter 50 thereat and at least one engaging groove 42 formed forinstalling light filter holder 40 on the integral base 11. Thesupporting groove 41 is communicated with the light window 111 anddefines a receiving opening 411 for receiving the light filter 50. Theengaging groove 42 is arranged surrounding a bottom periphery of thelight filter holder 40 for sitting and mounting the light filter holder40 on the integral base 11.

In other words, the supporting groove 41 forms an inner enclosure spacefor facilitating the installation of the light filter 50 at the lightfilter holder 40 along the light path of the photosensitive element 20.The engaging groove 42 forms an outer enclosure space for engaging withthe integral base 11, and that the integral base 11 provides aninstallation site for the light filter holder 40.

More specifically, the engaging groove 42 is shaped to couple with theintegral base 11, so that the light filter holder 40 can be fittinglyand stably installed at the integral base 11.

More specifically, the light filter holder 40 of each camera module unit100 comprises a light filter holder body 43, at least one inwardextending arm 44 and at least one downward extending arm 45 which islongitudinally extended from the light filter holder body 43 so as toform the installation site of the light filter 50 positioned in thelight window 111. The inward extending arm 44 is transversely extendedfrom the downward extending arm 45 for providing a horizontal(transversal) installing position to the light filter 50, so that alight axis of the light filer 50 and a light axis of the photosensitiveelement are coaxially aligned. In the eleventh embodiment shown in thedrawings, the light filter holder 40 of each camera module unit 100comprises four integrally connected inward extending arms 44 and fourintegrally connected downward extending arms 45, wherein the four inwardextending arms 44 and the four downward extending arms 45 are integrallyextended from four sides of the integral base body 43 to form a ringshaped integral body as the light filter holder 40.

In one embodiment, the engaging groove 42 of the light filter holder 40is shaped corresponding to the shape of the light window 111 of theintegral base 11 of each camera module unit 100. The shape of thesupporting groove 42 is also matched with the shape of the light filterholder 50. Particularly, the light filter 50 has a square shape and thesupporting groove 42 as illustrated in FIGS. 26 and 27 has a ring shapecorrespondingly, such as a square ring shape.

It is worth mentioning that the downwardly extending distance of eachdownward extending arm 45 determines the downward distance of the lightfilter 50 positioned in the light window 111, and the transversallyextending distance of each inward extending arm 44 determines the lightpassage area of the light filter 50. For example, when the downwardlyextending distance of the downward extending arm 45 is larger, thedeeper of the light filter 40 being sunk in the light window 111 and theshorter of the distance between the light filter 50 and thephotosensitive element 20, so that the back focus length of the cameramodule also can be smaller. When the transversally extending distance ofeach inward extending arm 44 is larger, the smaller of the receivingopening 411 of the light filter holder 40 and the light passage area ofthe light filter is smaller, so that it is more convenient to equip andinstall a suitable light filter 50 that may simplify the assemblingprocess and reduce the cost of the camera module unit 100. Of course,the downwardly extending distance of each downward extending arm 45should also consider the image quality of the camera module, such asavoiding dark spots and image of dusts while reducing the back focuslength. The transversally extending distance of the inward extending arm44 also should consider the light path of the camera module unit 100,the layout of the photosensitive region 2011 and non-photosensitiveregion 2012 of the photosensitive element 20, and the margin width ofthe circuit board 12. For instance, as each inward extending arm 44 isdesigned to extend inwardly and transversally, in the condition that thelight filter 50 is relatively small, each inward extending arm 44 mustremain not to block the photosensitive region 2011 of the photosensitiveelement 20, so that it will not excessively block the light flux. Inaddition, the inward extending arms 44 can be extended more inwardlywhen there is a wider space remained after the integral packaging of thecircuit board 12 (i.e. having a larger light window 111 or a widerdistance between the photosensitive element 20 and the integral base11), but can be extended less inwardly when there is a narrower spaceremained after the integral packaging of the circuit board 12 (i.e.having a smaller light window 111 or a narrower distance between thephotosensitive element 20 and the integral base 11), so as to minimizethe size and light passage area of the light filter 50 while ensuringthe quality of the captured images.

For example, as shown in FIG. 25B, L denotes a distance between twoopposing inward extending arms 44, and the size of the light filter 50is merely required to be slightly larger than L. In other words, thelight filter 50 can be supported by sitting the edges of the lightfilter 50 on the inward extending arms 44 respectively other thanrequired to be supported at the integral base body 112 like theconventional art, so that the requiring light passage area and the sizeof the light filter 50 can be reduced accordingly.

The light filter holder 40 is shaped in correspondence with the integralbase 11. In some embodiments, the integral base 11 has an approximatelyregular and symmetrical structure, such as a square ring shape.Correspondingly, the light filter holder 40 is constructed to have asymmetrical configuration while the light filter holder body 43 has aregular and symmetrical structure with the inward extending arms 44 andthe downward extending arms 45 shaped in a uniform manner. According tosome other embodiments, because the positions of the electroniccomponents to be embedded are different, the integral base 11 may haveinward protruding portions with different widths, so that the lightfilter holder body 43 may be provided with corresponding grooves orprotrusions, or the lengths of the inward extending arms 44 aredifferent, so as to match with the shape of the integral base 11 and theposition of the photosensitive element 20, in order to facilitate theinstallation of the light filter 50.

According to some embodiments, the light filter holder 40 can be adheredto the integral base 11 by adhering glue and the thickness of theadhering glue can be adjusted and controlled to ensure the flatness andlevelling of the light filter holder 40.

Moreover, according to the eleventh embodiment of the present invention,there are two camera module units 100 integrally connected to form anarray structure of the array camera module 1000, as shown in FIGS. 25Ato 27 . Particularly, the two integral base assemblies 10 of the twocamera module units 100 are integrally constructed and combined to forman integral piece of joint integral base assembly 1100, wherein the twocircuit boards 12 of the two camera module units 100 can be integrallymade to form an integral piece of joint circuit board 1120, and the twointegral bases 11 are integrally molded and packaged to form an integralpiece of joint integral base 1110. The two light filter holders 40 areintegrally made to form an integral piece of joint light filter holder1400. In other words, the integral piece of joint integral bases 1110,which is formed in an integral packing process, defines two lightwindows 111 side by side for providing two light passages for twophotosensitive elements 20 provided on the two circuit boards 12 of thejoint circuit board 1120 respectively. Alternatively, the two lightfilter holders 40 can also be two independent light filter holderswithout integrally connected with each other, which are respectivelyinstalled at the two integral bases 11 of the joint integral base 1110,and that the two integral bases 11 can also be two independent integralbases 11 independently molded and packaged on the joint circuit board1120.

More specifically, in this eleventh preferred embodiment, the jointintegral base 1110 is integrally packaged on the joint circuit board1120, wherein the joint integral base 1110 has two light windows 111 forproviding two light passages for the two photosensitive elements 20 andthe two lenses 30 respectively. The joint light filter holder 1400 alsoform two supporting grooves 41 therein for installing the two lightfilters 50 respectively.

It is worth mentioning that this integral configuration of the twocamera module units 100 to form a dual type array camera module 1000 isbeneficial for enhancing the consistence of the two camera module units100 with each other and is also space saving. For example, the jointlight filter holder 1400 can provides two installation sites for the twolight filters 50 respectively. So that, during the manufacturingprocess, by controlling the consistence of the two supporting grooves bymolding and packaging the joint integral base 1110 on the joint circuitboard 1120, consistent installing environments can thus be provided forthe two light filters 50.

The joint integral base 1110 comprises an integral joint portion 1111between the two connecting adjacent integral bases 11. The joint lightfilter holder 1400 has a bridge portion 1410 between the two integrallyconnecting light filter holders 40 and is bridged right above theintegral joint portion 111 of the joint integral base 1110. Morespecifically, the light filter holder bodies 43 of the two light filterholders 40 have two adjacent edges integrally connected to form thebridge portion 1410.

It is worth mentioning that, according to this eleventh embodiment ofthe present invention, as shown in FIGS. 25A and 25B, each of the twocamera module units 100 comprises an actuator 60. In other words, thetwo camera module units 100 are both Auto Focus camera modules, and thetwo Auto Focus camera modules are cooperative in image acquisition.According to some other embodiments, the array camera module also can beconfigured with camera module units 100 of other combinations. In oneembodiment, as shown in FIGS. 28A and 28B, both of the two camera moduleunits 100 are not provided with the actuators 60. In other words, bothof the two camera module units 100 are Fix Focus camera modules whichare cooperative in image acquisition. In one embodiment, as shown inFIGS. 29A and 29B, one of the camera module units 100 of the arraycamera module 1000 is provided with the actuator 60 so as to form anAuto Focus camera module, while the other camera module unit 100 is notprovided with the actuator 60 so as to form a Fix Focus camera module,wherein the Auto Focus camera module is cooperative with the Fix Focuscamera module to achieve the image acquisition.

According to this eleventh embodiment, the joint light filter holder1400 is installed at the joint integral base 1110, and the two actuators60 are installed on the joint integral light filter holder 1400. Inother words, the joint light filter holder 1400 is installed between theactuators 60 and the joint integral base 1110. And in one alternativemode of the eleventh embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 30A and 30B, thejoint light filter holder 1400 and portions of the two actuators 60 areinstalled on the top surface 113 of the joint integral base 1110. Morespecifically, the joint light filter holder 1400 is installed on thejoint integral base 1110 while at least two outer sides of the topsurface 113 of joint integral base 1110 are remained opened forinstalling portions of the two actuators 60 respectively, so that thetwo actuators 60 and the joint light filter holder 1400 coordinate toshare the top surface 113 of the joint integral base 1110.

Referring to FIG. 31 , a first alternative mode of the joint integralbase and the joint light filter holder according to the eleventhpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In thisfirst alternative mode, the inner side surfaces of each of the integralbases 11A are inclinedly extended from bottom to top to form the lightwindows 111A respectively, wherein each of the light windows 111A has asize increasing from bottom to top. More specifically, each inner sidesurface 114A of each integral base 11A defines an inclination angle αwith respect to the light axis of the camera module 100A, so that theopening of each of the light windows 111A has an increasing size forfacilitating the manufacture of the integral bases 11A. The inclinationangle α has a range of 3°˜30°. In some embodiments, the value of α iswithin 3°˜15°, 15°˜20° or 20°˜30°. Accordingly, the engaging groove 42Aof each light filter holder 40A defines an engaging angle α1corresponding to the inclination angle α, so that the shape of theengaging groove 42A matches the inclined shape of the inner side surface114A and thus each light filter holder 40A can be more stably installedin position.

In other words, each downward extending arm 45A is inclinedly anddownwardly extended from the light filter holder body 43A and definesthe engaging angle α1 corresponding to the inclination angle α. Eachinward extending arm 44A is transversely and inwardly extended from thelight filter holder body 43A and defines a supporting angle β which mayequal to or larger than 90°, so as to facilitate the assembly of thelight filter 50. Of course, the integral base 11 having the inclinationangle α can also be installed with the light filter holder 40 which doesnot form the engaging angle α1 and the supporting angle β.

As shown in FIG. 32A, a second alternative mode of the joint integralbase assembly and the joint light filter holder according to theeleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.Each of the light filter holders 40B simply forms a supporting groove41B communicated with the light window 111B of the respective integralbase 11B for providing an installation site for the respective lightfilter 40B. In other words, the light filters 50 are installed at thesupporting grooves 41B respectively.

More specifically, each of the light filter holders 40B comprises thelight filter holder body 43B and at least one inward extending arm 44Bonly, which is transversely, integrally and inwardly extended from alower portion of the light filter holder body 43B to define thesupporting groove 41B on top of the inward extending arm 44B, whereinthe light joint light filter holder 40B having the two filter holderbody 43B is adapted to sit and attach on the joint integral base 1110Bhaving the two integral bases 11B.

In other words, each of the light filter holders 40B does not have thedownward extending arm 45 and the engaging groove 42B. Therefore, theinstallation sites of the light filters are not sunk in the lightwindows 111B. However, through the inward extending distance of eachinward extending arm 44B, the light passage area of the light filter 50also can be reduced, wherein the light filter 50 is received in therespective supporting groove 41B, so that the relative height of thelight filter 50 with respect to the light filter holder 40B is reduced.

FIG. 32B illustrates an alternative example of the second alternativemode of the joint integral base assembly and the joint light filterholder according to the eleventh preferred embodiment of the presentinvention. Each light filter holder 40B1 has a supporting groove 41B1and an attaching groove 48B1 for providing assembling sites for the lens30 and the light filter 50 respectively.

More specifically, each light filter holder 40B1 comprises a lightfilter holder body 43B1 and at least one inward extending arm 44B1 whichis transversely, integrally and inwardly extended from a lower portionof the light filter holder body 43B1 to form the supporting groove 41B1on top of the inward extending arm 44B1 and the attaching groove 48B1below the inward extending arm 44B1. Each light filter holder 40B1further has a lens supporting portion 49B1 integrally and upwardlyextended from the light filter holder body 43B1 for receiving the lens30. According to this alternative example, each of the light filters 50is attached to a bottom side of the respective inward extending arm44B1.

Furthermore, in this alternative example, each lens supporting portion49B1 has a flat inner side surface without screwing threads forinstalling the lens 30 without engaging screw threads.

In other words, when each camera module unit 100B1 is a Fix Focus cameramodule, the lens 30 can be directly installed within the light filterholder 40B1, so as to retain the lens 30 in position. Particularly,there may be gap between the lens 30 and the lens supporting portion49B1 to facilitate the assembly and adjustment of the lens 30 before thelens 30 is fixed in position by such as gluing.

FIG. 32C illustrates another alternative example of the secondalternative mode of the joint integral base assembly and the joint lightfilter holder according to the eleventh preferred embodiment of thepresent invention. Each light filter holder 40B2 has a supporting groove41B2 and an attaching groove 48B2 for providing assembling sites for thelens 30 and the light filter 50 respectively.

More specifically, each light filter holder 40B2 comprises a lightfilter holder body 43B2 and at least one inward extending arm 44B2transversely, integrally and inwardly extended from a lower portion ofthe light filter holder body 43B2 to form the supporting groove 41B2 ontop of the inward extending arm 44B2 and the attaching groove 48B2 belowthe inward extending arm 44B2. The light filter holder 40B2 further hasa lens supporting portion 49B2 integrally and upwardly extended from thelight filter holder body 43B2 for receiving the lens 30. According tothis alternative example, each of the light filters 50 is attached to abottom side of the respective inward extending arm 44B2.

Furthermore, in this alternative example of the present invention, eachlens supporting portion 49B2 has an inner screwing structure forinstalling the lens 30 with engaging screw threads.

In other words, when each camera module unit 100B2 is a Fix Focus cameramodule, the lens 30 can be directly screwed to install within the lightfilter holder 40B2, so as to retain the lens 30 in position.

It is worth mentioning that in the above two alternative examples, thepossible alternative modes of each light filter holder illustrating thatthe lens 30 can be directly installed in the light filter holder 40B1 or40B2 are exemplary only but not a limitation to the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 33A, a third alternative mode of the joint lightfilter holder according to the eleventh preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrated. In this third alternative mode, eachof the light filter holders 40C has at least one corner opening 441Cprovided at a corner position of the receiving opening 411C thereof, forfacilitating the assembling of the light filter 50 and reducing the edgeshadow of the image of the camera module unit 100 which may be resultedfrom a sharp corner. More specifically, the corner opening 441C isformed between two adjacent inward extending arms 44C and extendedupwardly to communicate the light window 111C with outside so as toincrease the light flux at the corner position of the light filterholder 40C of the camera module unit. In other words, the two adjacentinward extending arms 44C form the corner opening 441C therebetweenwhich is communicated to outside so as to increase light flux at thecorner opening 441C of the light filter holder 40C, and thus the edgeshadow is reduced.

More specifically, in one embodiment, each corner opening 441C is anexpanded square corner opening. For example, but not limiting, eachlight filter holder 40C has four such expanded square corner openings atthe four corner positions thereof. In other embodiments, each corneropening 441C may be a corner opening with an arc angle so as to increasethe light flux at the corner of the light filter holder 40C. Of course,there may have no such corner openings 441C formed in some embodiments.The person of ordinary skilled in the art should understand that theshape, number, and position of the corner opening 441C would not limitthe scope of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 33B, a fourth alternative mode according to theeleventh preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.Each of the light filter holders 40P of the joint light filter holder1400P comprises at least one retaining protrusion 46P which is at leastpartially, protrudedly and upwardly extended from the top of the lightfilter holder body 43P, so as to retain an installed component orprevent dusts or lights from reaching the inner space of the cameramodule unit 100P. For example, but not limiting, each retainingprotrusion 46P is used for retaining the actuator 60 or the lens 30 inposition. Particularly, for example, the retaining protrusion 46P isprovided at a middle position of the light filter holder body 43P fordividing the light filter holder body 43P into two portions, includingan outer portion used for installing the actuator 60 and an innerportion used for installing the lens 30. In such a configuration, eachretaining protrusion 46P can retain the respective actuator 60 inposition, so as to decrease the deviation of the actuator 60. And,during the assembling process, the retaining protrusion 46P can preventthe adhering glue which is used for adhering the actuator 60 in positionfrom overflowing into the inner space to contaminate the lens or otherinner components. Particularly, the retaining protrusion 46P can be aring shaped protrusion so as to integrally retaining the actuator 60 inposition and block the adhering glue from overflowing into the innerspace.

It is worth mentioning that according to other embodiments of thepresent invention, a surface of the retaining protrusion 46P can beprovided with screwing threads for directly installing the lens 30. Andwhen the retaining protrusion 46P is provided with screwing threads atan outer side thereof, it is suitable for coupling with the lens 30 witha relatively large pore diameter.

Referring to FIGS. 34A to 35 , a joint integral base assembly accordingto a twelfth preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. Each of the integral bases 11D of the joint integral baseassembly 1100D comprises an integral base body 112D with at least onelight window 111D therein for providing the light passage for therespective photosensitive element 20. More specifically, the integralbase body 112D has at least one side opening 1121D which communicatesthe light window 111D to outside, and the light filter holder 40D coversthe side opening 1121D so as to form the light window 111D sealinglysurrounded by the light filter holder 40D and the base body 112D.

Each of the light filter holders 40D comprise at least one extending leg433D integrally and downwardly extended from a bottom of its lightfilter holder body 43D to the respective base board 121D, so as to coverand enclose the side opening 1121D. For example, but not limiting, theextending leg 433D is connected to the base board 121D and/or theintegral base body 112D by adhering.

More specifically, each integral base body 112D has a U-shapedstructure, and the light filter body 43D of the light filter holder 40Dis engaged with the U-shaped integral base body 112D, and the extendingleg 433D is downwardly extended to the side opening 1121D of theU-shaped structure, so as to form a closed structure for the integralbase 11D, so that a sealed and enclosed inner environment is formed.

In other words, in this twelfth embodiment, each of the integral bases11D integrally combines with the respective light filter holders 40D tofunction as the conventional holder of the camera module unit, so thatthe advantages of integral encapsulating process and the function of thelight filter holder 40D are incorporated in the present invention.

It is worth mentioning that since the requirement for the size of thecamera module is higher and higher, the layout of the electroniccomponents 122D of the circuit boards 12D, the positions of theelectronically connecting elements 203, and the packaging positions ofthe integral bases 11D should be properly configured, i.e. while fullutilizing the base boards 121D, the occupying areas of these componentsshould be smaller, so as to reduce the size of the array camera module.According to this twelfth embodiment of the present invention, thepositions of the electronic components 122D are used for integralpackaging, that is to say the electronic components 122D are embedded inthe integral bases 11D, and thus the space around the electroniccomponents 122D are utilized, and the electromagnetic interferencebetween the electronic components 122D and the electrically connectingelements 203 is reduced, and the position at one side of each of thebase boards 121D which is not provided with the electronic components122D is provided with the extending leg 433D of the respective lightfilter holder 40D, so as to fully utilize the remaining positions of thebase boards 121D. On the other hand, by introducing the joint lightfilter holder 1400D, having the two light filter holders 40D and beinginstalled by adhering, the flatness and levelling of the integral bases11D of the joint integral base 1110D can be adjusted and compensated, soas to provide a good installing condition for the array camera module.

As shown in FIGS. 36A to 36C, an alternative mode of the joint integralbase assembly and the joint light filter holder of the array cameramodule according to the twelfth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated. Each integral base 11E of the joint integralbase 1110E of the joint integral base assembly 1100E comprises anintegral base body 112E having at least one light window 111E formedtherein for providing the light passage for the respectivephotosensitive element 20 of the joint circuit board 1120E. Morespecifically, each of the integral base bodies 112E has two sideopenings 1121E communicating the light window 111E to outside, and therespective light filter holder 40E has means for covering the sideopenings 1121E so as to sealingly enclose the light window 111E.

Each of the light filter holders 40E comprises two extending legs 433Erespectively, integrally and downwardly extended from the light filterholder body 43E to the respective base board 121E so as to fittingly andsealingly cover and close the openings 1121E. For example, but notlimiting, each of the extending legs 433E is connected to the respectivebase board 121E and/or the respective integral base body 112E byadhering. More specifically, according to one embodiment, the integralbase bodies 112E of the joint integral base 1120E are integrallyconnected side by side parallelly, and the light filter holder bodies43E of the two light filter holders 40E of the joint light filter holder1400E are also connected side by side parallelly and mounted on theintegral base bodies 112E respectively, the extending legs 443E of eachof the light filter holders 40E are downwardly extended to fill andcover the side openings 1121E formed at two sides of the respectiveintegral base body 112E, so that the integral base body 112E forms asealed and closed inner environment as the light window 111E. In someembodiments, two inner adjacent extending legs can be integrallyconnected to form a combined extending leg. Particularly, the combinedextending leg is positioned between the two light windows 111E thatseparates the two light windows 111E and the two light passages of thetwo camera module units. In other words, according to this embodiment,the joint light filter holder 1400E comprises three extending legs 433E,including two outer extending legs 433E and a middle extending leg 433Ewhich are parallel to each other, wherein the middle extending leg 433Eis positioned between the light windows 111E to separate the two lightwindows 111E, and the other two outer extending legs 433E arerespectively inwardly extended to fill and cover the two outer sideopenings 1121E of the joint integral base 1110E, so that two independentenclosed light windows 111E are formed. In other words, in the arraycamera module 1000E, the two light windows 111E of the two camera moduleunits 100E are communicated with each other before installing the jointlight filter holder 1400E, and the joint light filter holder 1400Ecomprises the two outer extending legs 433E to cover the two outer sideopenings 1121E of the joint integral base 1110E and the middle extendingleg 433E to incorporate with the joint integral base 1110E to positionbetween the two light windows 111E to form two separated and sealedlight windows 111E. The adjacent extending legs 433E of the light filterholders 40E actually form a combined portion, i.e. the middle extendingleg, that may substantially substitute the integral joint portion 1111Eof the integral piece of bases 1110E. In one embodiment, the twoadjacent extending legs 433E are actually integrally formed and anintegral combined extending leg 433E is presented.

Referring to FIGS. 37A to 37B, another alternative mode of the jointintegral base and joint light filter holder according to the twelfthpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In thisalternative mode, each of the integral bases 11Q of the joint integralbase 1110Q of the joint integral base assembly 1100Q comprises anintegral base body 112Q having at least one light window 111Q formed forproviding the light passage for the respective photosensitive element 20electrically connected on the joint circuit board 1120Q. Morespecifically, the joint integral base 1110Q has two side openings, forexample at two opposing outer sides, communicating the two light windows111Q to outside respectively, wherein the joint light filter holder1400D comprises means for covering and closing the two side openings1121Q to enclose the periphery of the light window 111Q. The differencebetween this alternative mode with the above embodiments is that the twoside openings 1121Q of the two integral base bodies 112Q of the jointintegral base assemblies 1100Q are arranged at opposite sides, so as tofacilitate the positioning of the joint light filter holder 1400Q on thejoint integral base 1110Q and retain the joint light filter holder 1400Qin position at two sides thereof.

Furthermore, each side opening 1211Q is constructed to have a reversedtrapezoidal shape, so as to retain and install the corresponding lightfilter holder 40Q in position.

Accordingly, each joint light filter holder 1400Q comprises twoextending legs 433Q integrally and downwardly extended from the twolight filter holder bodies 43D to the base board 121Q respectively, soas to sealedly cover and close the side openings 1121Q respectively.More specifically, the two extending legs 433Q are arranged at twoopposite sides, and each of which has a reversed trapezoidal structurefor fittingly covering the respective side opening 1121Q. For example,when the light filter holder 40Q is being installed, each extending leg433Q is retained at the side opening 1121Q, so as to seal and close thecorresponding side opening 1121Q.

The person of ordinary skilled in the art should understand that theshape and size of the opening 1121Q in the embodiment of the presentinvention is exemplary only but is not limiting the scope of the presentinvention.

Particularly, in some embodiments, the electronic components 122Q can becollectively arranged at just one side of the base board 121Q, and areembedded by at least a portion of the respective integral base body112Q, and more particularly, they are embedded by the integral base body112Q at a wider area thereof. The other side of the base body 121Q whichis not provided with the electronic components 122Q is corresponding tothe relatively narrower portion of the respective integral base body112Q. Each of the light filter holders 40Q is installed at therespective integral base body 112Q and the each of the extending legs433Q is downwardly extended to fill and cover the respective sideopening 1121Q between the two wider and narrower portions of therespective integral base body 112Q.

Furthermore, each of the integral base bodies 112Q has at least oneopening wall 1122Q, actually two opening walls 1122Q, forming thecorresponding side opening 1121Q. Each opening wall 1122Q is inclinedly,integrally and upwardly extended from the base board 121Q, so as to formthe reversed trapezoidal shaped opening 1121Q. Correspondingly, each ofthe extending legs 433Q has at least one complementary wall 4331Q whichis formed corresponding to the opening wall 1122Q, so that theconfiguration of each extending leg 433Q is suitable to be fittinglyinserted into the opening 1121Q, so as to seal and enclose the peripheryof the opening 111Q.

Particularly, the complementary wall 4331Q of each of the extending legs433Q and the corresponding opening wall 1122Q of each of the integralbase bodies 112Q are connected and sealed by adhering glue.

Referring to FIGS. 38A to 39 of the drawings, an array camera moduleaccording to a thirteenth preferred embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated. Each of the integral bases 11F of the joint integralbase 1110F of the joint integral base assembly 1100F has an installinggroove 115F formed on top thereof and communicated to the light window111F of the respective light filter holder 43F of the joint light filterholder 1400F and at least one notch 117F formed between the two integralbases 11F. According to this thirteen embodiment of the presentinvention, the notch 117H is provided at a middle position which is thejoint portion of the two integral bases 11F, i.e. the position above theintegral joint portion 1111F of the joint integral base 1110F, and iscommunicated to the two light windows 111F. In other words, the notch117F connects the two installing grooves 115F and receives a bridgeportion 1410F of the joint light filter holder 1400F.

The light filter holders 40F are installed in the two installing grooves15F respectively so as to fittingly mount the joint light filter holder1400F on joint integral base 111F. More specifically, each of installinggrooves 115F is a U-shaped groove, and the top opening of the U-shapedgroove corresponds to and communicates with the notch 117F.Particularly, the U-shaped grooves for the two light filter holders 40Fare connected with each other through the notch 117F to form an enclosedchamber with inner receiving space to fittingly receive the joint lightfilter holder 1400 therein, wherein when the joint light filter holder1400 is installed at the joint integral base 1110F, the bridge portion1410F of the joint light filter holder 1400F is bridged and positionedin the middle notch 117F.

More specifically, the engaging groove 42F of each of the light filterholders 40F is engaged to the installing groove 115F of the respectiveintegral base 11F, so that the light filter holder bodies 43F of thelight filter holders 40F are supported and received in the installinggrooves 115F respectively.

Each light filter holder body 43F of each of the light filter holders40F has a predetermined thickness avoiding any contact with anycomponents positioned above it, such as the actuator 60 or the lens 30.Preferably, when each of the light filter holders 40F is installed inthe respective installing groove 115F, a top surface of the light filterholder 40F is in the same plane with a top surface of the respectiveintegral base body 112F, so that the light filter holders 40 will notprotrude from the integral base bodies 112F and in contact with theactuator 60 or the lens 30 installed above it.

More specifically, each of the integral bases 11F comprises a pluralityof protrusion steps 116F which is protruded and extended from theintegral base body 112F to define the installing groove 115F. Each ofthe integral bases 11F has one side, the inner side according thisthirteen embodiment, which does not form the protrusion step so as toform the notch 117F.

According to this thirteenth embodiment of the present invention, eachof the integral bases 11F comprises three such protrusion steps 116Fwhich are integrally connected to form a U-shaped protrusion structure.And the inner side of each of the integral bases 11F without forming theprotrusion step forms the notch 117F thereon.

The light filter holder body 43F of each of the light filter holders 40Fcomprises at least one engaging edge 431F used for engaging with theinstalling groove 115F and an inner engaging edge being filled in thenotch 117F. In other words, the inner engaging edge is downwardlyextended into the notch 117F so that the notch 117F is filled to definetwo sealed inner environments as the two light windows 111F. In thisthirteenth embodiment, the two extending edges of the two light filterbodies 43F of the two light filter holders 40F are combined to form thebridge portion 1410F of the joint light filter holder 1400F.

According to this thirteenth embodiment, the light filter holder body43F of each of the light filter holders 40F comprises three engagingedges 431F and one inner extending edge. The engaging edges 431F and theinner extending edge 432F are integrally connected to form a squareshape to fit the shape of the respective installing groove 115F.

The downward extending arms 45F of each of the light filter holderbodies 43F are respectively and longitudinally extended from theengaging edge 431F and the inner extending edge so as to form theengaging groove 42F. The inward extending arms 44F are transversely andintegrally extended from the downward extending arms 45F respectively toform the supporting groove 41F.

It is worth mentioning that the electronic components 122F may bearranged at different positions of the base board 121F of the circuitboard 12F, and each of the integral bases 11F embeds the electroniccomponents 122F. When configuring the positions of the electroniccomponents 122F, if the required thickness of each of the integral bases11F is larger, it is more convenient to form the installing groove 115F.And the positions without electronic components 122F may have arelatively smaller size, so as to reduce the size of the circuit board12F. In this thirteen embodiment of the present invention, a portion ofeach of the integral bases 11F corresponding to the three engaging edges431F is arranged with the electronic components 122F and this portion ofthe integral base 11F has a larger transverse width, wherein theinstalling groove 115F is formed. Also, another portion of the integralbase 11F corresponding to the extending edge 432F has a smallertransverse width and is not used for forming the installing groove 115F.The inner extending edges are connected to form the bridge portion 1410Ffor filling in the notch 117F that functions as the protrusion step 116Fhere.

Each of the actuators 60 has at least a part installed at the protrusionsteps 116F, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. Each of theactuator 60 is operatively connected to the circuit board 12F through atleast one connecting pin 61. In other embodiments, the lens 30 may haveat least a part installed at the protrusion steps 116F, so that a FixFocus camera module is formed.

More specifically, each of the actuators 60 has three edges which arerespectively installed at the protrusion steps 116F and a remaining edgewhich is installed at the inner extending edge (i.e. the bridge portion1410F) of the respective light filter holder 40F. In some embodiments, agap may be formed between each of the actuators 60 and the innerextending edge (i.e. the bridge portion 1410F), and an adhering glue isused for filling the gap so as to provide a sealed and enclosed innerenvironment for the respective camera module unit 100F of the arraycamera module 1000F. In other words, the top surface of the innerextending edge (the bridge portion 1410F) is lower than the top surfaceof each protrusion step 116F, and the adhering glue can be used to filland make up the height difference therebetween. Particularly, each ofthe actuator 60 is adhered to the protrusion steps 116F while the lightaxis of the respective lens 30 is coaxially aligned with the light axisof the respective photosensitive element 20.

Referring to FIGS. 40A to 42 of the drawings, an array camera moduleaccording an fourteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated.

Each of the integral bases 11R of the joint integral base 1110Rcomprises an integral base body 112R having at least one light window111R formed for providing a light passage to the respectivephotosensitive element 20 provided on the joint circuit board 1120R.More specifically, each of the integral base bodies 112R has a U-shapedbody and an inner side opened to form an integral joint portion 1111Rwhich is a middle opening communicating the two light windows 111R witheach other in a middle portion of the joint integral base assembly1100R, as shown in FIGS. 40A and 41 , while the two U-shaped integralbase bodies 112R integral combined to form the rectangular ring shapedjoint integral base 1110R. The joint light filter holder 1400R comprisesthe two light filter holders 40R integrally connected and means forfilling the middle opening to separate the two light windows 111Raccording to this fourteen embodiment of the present invention.

Each of the light filter holders 40R of the joint light filter holder1400R comprises at least one extending leg 433R integrally anddownwardly extended from the respective light filter holder body 43R tothe base board 121R, wherein the two extending legs 433R combine to formthe integral filling means inserted into the middle opening. Forexample, but not limiting, the extending legs 433R are connected to thebase board 121R and/or the integral base bodies 112R by adhering.

In some embodiments, two adjacent extending legs 433R are integrallyconnected to form a combined extending leg, i.e. the filling means.Particularly, the combined extending leg separates the two light windows111R and forms two light passages for the two camera module units 100R.In other words, the combined extending leg of the joint light filterholder 1400R, i.e. the two integrally combined extending legs 433R, ispositioned in the middle between the two light windows 111R andseparates the two light windows 111R, so as to form two sealed andindependent light windows 111R.

Each of the integral bases 11R has an installing groove 115Rcommunicated to the light window 111R and at least one notch 117R whichcommunicates with the two light windows 111R at two sides thereof. Eachof the light filter holders 40R is installed at the correspondinginstalling groove 115R.

According to this fourteenth embodiment of the present invention, eachof the integral bases 11R comprises three protrusion steps 116R whichare protruded and extended from the integral base body 112R to form theinstalling groove 115R.

The light filter holder body 43R of each of the light filter holders 40Rcomprises at least one engaging edge 431R used for engaging with theinstalling groove 115R and the combined extending leg 433R which can befilled into the notch 117R positioned at the middle opening of theintegral joint portion 1111R.

According to this fourteenth embodiment, the light filter holder body43R of each of the light filter holders 40R comprises four engagingedges 431R integrally connected to form a square shaped structure. Theengaging edges 431R of the two light filter holder bodies 43R areintegrally connected while the inner side engaging edges 431R of the twolight filter holder bodies 43R integrally combined in the middle to formthe bridge portion 1410R while the combined extending leg 433R isdownwardly extended therefrom. In other words, in this fourteenthembodiment, the middle opening notch 117R is provided at the joiningportion of the two integral bases 11R of the joint integral bases 1110R.The extending leg 433R of the joint light filter holder 1400R isprovided at the corresponding joining portion thereof for integrallyforming the bridge portion 1410R.

The downward extending arms 45R are longitudinally extended from theengaging edges 431R respectively to define the engaging groove 42R. theinward extending arms 44R are transversely and integrally extended fromthe downward extending arms 45R respectively to define the supportinggroove 41R. It is worth mentioning that the electronic components 122R,which may be arranged at different positions of the base bodies 121R ofthe circuit board 12R, are embedded by the integral bases 11R. Whenconfiguring the positions of the electronic components 122R, if therequired thickness of the integral base 11R is larger, it is moreconvenient to form the installing groove 115R. Also, the positionswithout electronic components 122R may have a relative smallerthickness, so as to reduce the size of the circuit board 12R. In thisfourteen embodiment of the present invention, a portion of each of theintegral bases 11R corresponding to the two engaging edges 431R isarranged with the electronic components 122R, and this portion of theintegral base 11F has a larger transverse width, and the installinggroove 115R is formed. And that another portion of the integral base 11Fcorresponding to the protrusion steps 116R has a smaller transversewidth and it is not used for forming the installing groove 115R.

Each of the actuators 60 has at least a part installed at the protrusionsteps 116R, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. Each of theactuators 60 is operatively connected to the circuit board 12R throughat least one connecting pin 61. In other embodiments, the lens 30 mayhave at least a part installed at the protrusion steps 116R, so that aFix Focus camera module is formed.

More specifically, each of the actuators 60 is installed at theprotrusion steps 116R and has two edges which are respectively installedat the protrusion steps 116R which forms the installing groove 115R, andthat one remaining edge is installed at the protrusion step 116R whichis not used for forming the installing groove 115R while anotherremaining edge is installed at the extending edge 432R of the respectivelight filter holder 40R.

As shown in FIGS. 42A to 43 , an alternative mode of the array cameramodule according to the fourteenth embodiment of the present inventionis illustrated. Each of the integral bases 11H of the joint integralbase 1110H of the joint integral base assembly 1100H comprises threeprotrusion steps 116H which are integrally connected in which twoprotrusion steps 116H and the corresponding integral base body 112H forman installing groove 115H, while the remaining protrusion step 116Hwhich is integrally and upwardly extended from the base body 112H is notused for forming the installing groove 115H. The two integral bases 11Hare not provided with the protrusion steps at the joining portion, andthus a notch 117H is formed thereon. In other words, each of the jointintegral bases 1110H has two parallel installing grooves 115H and thenotch 117H is formed between the two installing grooves 115H.Accordingly, each of the light filter holders 40H forms a U-shapedstructure and the opening of the U-shaped structure is opposite to theprotrusion step 116H without forming the installing groove 115H. Inother words, the joint light filter holder 1400H has a E-shapedstructure when viewed from top, wherein the middle portion of theE-shaped structure is bridged above the integral joint portion 1111H ofthe joint integral base 1110H.

The light filter holder body 43H of each of the light filter holders 40Hcomprises at least one engaging edge 431H adapted to sit and mount inthe installing groove 115H.

According to this alternative mode of the fourteenth embodiment of thepresent invention, the light filter holder body 43H of each of the lightfilter holders 40H comprises three engaging edges 431H integrally andtransversely connected with each other, so as to form a U-shapedstructure with an opening, so as to match with the shape of theinstalling groove 115H.

The downward extending arms 45H of each of the light filter holders 43Hare respectively longitudinally extended from the engaging edges 431Hthereof respectively, so as to engage with the installing groove 115H.The inward extending arms 44H of each of the light filter holders 43Hare transversely and integrally extended from the downward extendingarms 45H thereof respectively to form the supporting groove 41H, so asto provide the installation site for the respective light filter 50. Thedifference between this alternative mode and the above fourteenembodiment is that each of the engaging grooves 42H and the supportinggrooves 42H is a U-shaped structure, but not a closed structure, with anopening at one side thereof. In other words, when the light filter 50 isinstalled at the respective light filter holder 40H, only three edgesare fixed and supported while the remaining edge is biasing against aninner wall of the protrusion step 116H without forming the installinggroove 115H.

It is worth mentioning that the electronic components 122H may bearranged at different positions of the base bodies of the circuit boards12H of the joint circuit board 1120H and are embedded by the integralbases 11H of the joint integral base 1110H. When configuring thepositions of the electronic components 122H, if the required thicknessof the integral base 11H is larger, it is convenient to form theinstalling groove 115H. Also, the positions without electroniccomponents 122H may have a relatively smaller thickness, so as to reducethe size of the circuit boards 12H of the joint circuit board 1120H, andthese positions are not used for forming the installing groove 115H. Inthis alternative mode of the fourteen embodiment of the presentinvention, a portion of each of the integral bases 11H corresponding tothe three engaging edges 431 H is arranged with the electroniccomponents 122H, and this portion of the respective integral base 11Hhas a larger transverse width, and the installing groove 115H is formed.And that another portion of each of the integral bases 11H correspondingto the protrusion step 116H without forming the installing groove 115Hhas a smaller transverse width.

Each of the actuators 60 has at least a part installed at the protrusionsteps 116H, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. Each of theactuators 60 is operatively connected to the respective circuit board12H through at least one connecting pin 61. In other embodiments, eachof the lenses 30 may have at least a part installed at the protrusionsteps 116H, so that a Fix Focus camera module is formed.

More specifically, each of the actuators 60 has three edges which arerespectively installed at the protrusion steps 116H for forming theinstalling groove 115H, and the remaining edge is installed at theprotrusion step 116H without forming the installing groove 115H.

In other words, differing from the above preferred embodiments, each ofthe light filter holders 40H of this alternative mode is not providedwith the engaging edge but forms an open U-shaped structure, and theprotrusion steps 116H of the respective integral base 11H are upwardlyextended to form a closed U-shaped structure while no notch is formed.

Referring to FIGS. 44A, 44B and 45 , an array camera module according toa fifteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated.

The difference between this fifteenth embodiment and the above preferredembodiments is that, each of the integral bases 11I of the jointintegral base 1110I comprises one protrusion step 116I and has threenotches 117I, wherein the protrusion step 116I is integrally andpartially extended from the integral base to form the installing groove115I. In other words, the three sides of the respective integral base11I without forming the protrusion steps 116I are formed with thenotches 117I.

The light filter holder body 43I of each of the light filter holders 40Icomprises at least one engaging edge 431I adapted to sit and mount inthe installing groove 115I and at least one extending edge 432I adaptedto insert and fill in the notch 117I. In other words, the extending edge432I is extended into the notch 117I to fittingly fill the notch 117I,so that a sealed and enclosed inner environment is formed.

According to this fifteenth embodiment of the present invention, thelight filter holder body 43I of each of the light filter holders 40Icomprises one engaging edges 43I and three extending edge 432I which areintegrally and transversely connected to match the shape of theinstalling groove 115I. It is worth mentioning that in this array cameramodule 1000I, the two adjacent extending edges 432I of the two lightfilter holders 40I of the joint light filter holder 1400I are integrallyconnected to form an integral piece functioned as a combined portion,the bridge portion 1310I, of the two camera module units 100I.

The downward extending arms 45I of each of the light filter holders 43Iare respectively longitudinally extended from the engaging edge 431I andthe extending edges 432I thereof, so as to form the engaging groove 42I.The inward extending arms 44I of each of the light filter holders 43Iare transversely and integrally extended from the downward extendingarms 45I respectively to form the supporting groove 41I.

Furthermore, the two protrusion steps 116I of the two integral bases 11Iof the joint integral base 1110I are integrally extended to form alinear groove structure. The notches are adjacent to each other to forman E-shaped structure. Accordingly, the extending edges 432I of each oflight filter holders 40I form a U-shaped structure and the engaging edge431I is provided at the opening of the U-shaped structure. In the jointlight filter holder 1400I, two adjacent extending edges 432I areintegrally combined to form the bridge portion 1410I for fitting theintegral portion 1111I of the integral piece of bases 1110I to sit andmount thereon.

According to an alternative mode, two engaging edges 43I can be jointedwith each other and two notches 117I are adjacent to each other. Inother words, the two protrusion steps 116I form an L-shaped structure,so as to form an L-shaped installing groove 115I. The two notches 117Iare adjacent to each other to form an L-shaped structure. Accordingly,the two engaging edges 431I of the light filter holder 40I are adjacentto each other, so as to match with the L-shaped installing groove 115I,and that the two extending edges 432I are adjacent to each other, so asto be filled in the notches 117I to form a sealed and closed innerenvironment. Each of the actuators 60 has at least a part installed atthe protrusion steps 116I, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module.Each of the actuators 60 is operatively connected to the circuit board12I through at least one connecting pin 61. In other embodiments, eachof the lenses 30 may have at least a part installed at the protrusionsteps 116I and/or the respective light filter holder body 43I, so that aFix Focus camera module is formed. More specifically, each of theactuators 60 has two edges respectively installed at the protrusionsteps 116I, and the remaining edges are installed at the extending edges432I of the light filter holder 40I respectively.

As shown in FIGS. 46A and 47 , an alternative mode of the array cameramodule according to a fifteenth preferred embodiment of the presentinvention is illustrated, wherein the positions of the protrusion steps116J are different from the above embodiments. Accordingly, in the jointintegral base 1110J of the array camera module 1000J, the two protrusionsteps 11J of the two integral bases 11J are provided at two opposingouter sides of the two integral bases 11J respectively in a parallelmanner so as to form the installing groove 115J on top of the twointegral base bodies 111J. In other words, each of the two oppositesides of the two integral bases 11J is formed with a portion of theinstalling groove 115J. In comparison with the above embodiments, thetwo protrusion steps 116J of the joint integral base 1110J are changedto a parallel configuration, rather than the linear configuration.

Referring to FIGS. 48A, 48B and 49 , an array camera module according toa sixteenth preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. The difference between this sixteenth embodiment and theabove embodiments is that, each of the integral bases 11K of the jointintegral base 1110K comprises one protrusion step 116K and has threenotches 117K. The protrusion step 116K is partially, integrally andupwardly extended from the respective integral base body 112K to formthe installing groove 115K. In other words, the three sides withoutforming with the protrusion step are formed with the three notches 117Krespectively.

The light filter holder body 43K of each of the light filter holders 40Kcomprises at least one engaging edge 431K adapted to sit and mount inthe installing groove 115I and at least one extending edge 432K adaptedto insert and fill in the notch 117K. In other words, the extending edge432K is downwardly extended into the notch 117K to fittingly fill thenotch 117K, so that a sealed and enclosed inner environment is formed.

According to this sixteenth embodiment of the present invention, thelight filter holder body 43K of each of the light filter holders 40Kcomprises one engaging edge 43K and three extending edges 432K which areintegrally and transversely connected to match and fit with the shape ofthe installing groove 115K formed by the notches 117K. Two adjacentextending edges are integrally connected to form the bridge portion1410K of the joint light filter holder 1400K which is bridged tofittingly mount on the integral joint portion 1111K of the jointintegral base 1110K.

The downward extending arms 45K of each of the light filter holders 40Kare respectively longitudinally extended from the engaging edge 431K andthe extending edges 432K thereof respectively, so as to form theengaging groove 42K. The inward extending arms 44K of each of the lightfilter holders 40K are transversely and integrally extended from thedownward extending arms 45K thereof respectively to form the supportinggroove 41K.

Each of the actuators 60 has at least a part s installed at theprotrusion step 116K, so as to form an Auto Focus camera module. Each ofactuators 60 is operatively connected to the respective circuit board12K through at least one connecting pin 61. In other embodiments, eachof the lenses 30 may have at least a part installed at the protrusionstep 116K, so that a Fix Focus camera module is formed.

More specifically, each of the actuators 60 has one side supported atthe protrusion step 116K, while the other three sides are installed atthe extending edges 432K of the light filter holder 40K respectively.

It is worth mentioning that according to this sixteenth embodiment ofthe present invention, the two protrusion steps 116K of the two integralbases 11K of the joint integral base 1110K are parallel with each other,so as to provide the installation site of the joint light filter holder1400K. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, therelative positions of the protrusion steps 116K can be arranged in otherconfigurations, such as being arranged in parallel or verticaldirections. The person of ordinary skilled in the art should understandthat the configuration of each two protrusion steps 116K is not limitedin the present invention.

As shown in FIGS. 50A to 51 , an array camera module according to aseventeenth preferred embodiment of the present invention isillustrated. The difference between this seventeenth embodiment and theabove embodiments is that, each of the light filter holders 40L of thejoint light filter holder 1400L comprises an upward extendingsurrounding wall 46L upwardly extended from the light filter holder body43L defining a retaining chamber 461L therein for retaining aninstalling component, for example, but not limiting, the lens and/or theactuator 60. In other words, when assembling the array camera module1000L, the lens 30 and/or the actuator 60 is installed and retained inthe retaining chamber 461L of the respective light filter holder 40L,while the light axis of the actuator 60 and/or lens 30 is coaxiallyaligned with the light axis of the photosensitive element 20 provided onthe respective circuit board 12L. The size of the retaining chamber 461Lis determined by the size of the installing component to be installed.

In other words, each of the upward extending surrounding wall 46Lperforms a frame retaining function that, when the lens 30 and/or theactuator 60 is installed inside the retaining chamber 461L of therespective light filter holder 40, excessive deviation is prevented soas to ensure the consistence of the optical system of the respectivecamera module unit 100L. At the same time, the upward extendingsurrounding wall 46L also can protect the installing component such asthe actuator 60 and/or the lens 30, so as to avoid unwanted impactswhile ensuring the lens 30 and/or the actuator 60 be stably installedand blocking any dust outside from entering the interior space of therespective camera module unit 100L. As shown in FIG. 51 , the two upwardextending surrounding walls 46L of the two camera module units 100L ofthe array camera module 1000L can be integrally constructed to form asingle body having the two retaining chambers 461L formed in a side byside manner to respectively mount on the two integral bases 11L of thejoint integral base 1110L such that the two lenses 30 received in thetwo retaining chambers 461L respectively are aligned along the lightpaths of the two photosensitive elements 20 provided on the two circuitboards 12L of the joint circuit board 1120L respectively.

Furthermore, when the camera module unit 100L is an Auto Focus cameramodule, each of the light filter holders 40L has at least one pinopening 462L for the connecting pin 61 to penetrate therethrough forelectrically connecting the installing component, such as the actuator60, to the respective circuit board 12L. In other words, when theactuator 60 is installed at the retaining chamber 461L of the respectivelight filter holder 40L, the connecting pin 61 of the actuator 60penetrates the corresponding pin openings 462L and is connected to thecircuit board 12L. Of course, when the camera module is a Fix Focuscamera module, the light filter holder 40L has no need to provide suchpin opening 462L.

It is worth mentioning that the pin opening 462L may not been seen in asectional view along a central line, but in order for easy comprehensionand description, dotted lines are used for illustrating the possibleposition of the pin opening 462L. However, it is not intended to implythat the actual positions of the pin opening 462L or the connecting pin61 should be limited to the positions as shown in the drawings.

It is worth mentioning that each of the lenses 30 and/or the actuators60 of the array camera module 1000L is retained within the respectivesurrounding wall 46L so as to ensure the consistence of the light axisof the each of two camera module units 100L, and the two camera moduleunits 100L are also controlled in accordance with each other.

Referring to FIG. 52 , an array camera module according to an eighteenthpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. Thedifference between this eighteenth embodiment and the above embodimentsis that each of the light filter holders 40M of the joint light filterholder 1400M comprises an upward extending surrounding wall 46M upwardlyand integrally extended from the top of the respective light filterholder body 43M to form a retaining chamber 461M therein, and a downwardextending surrounding wall 47M downwardly and integrally extended fromthe bottom of the respective light filter holder body 43M to form alower housing chamber 471M. Particularly, the base surrounding wall 47Mcan be integrally and downwardly extended from the upward extendingsurrounding wall 46M to form an integral outer blocking wall.

The retaining chambers 461M are used for retaining the installingcomponents, such as but not limiting the lenses 30 and/or the actuators60. Correspondingly, the downward extending surrounding walls 47M areused for receiving the two integral bases 11M respectively. In otherwords, when assembling the camera module, the lenses 30 and/or theactuators 60 are installed in the retaining chambers 461M of the lightfilter holders 40M respectively, so as to retain and protect the lenses30 and the actuators 60 in position, and the light axis of each of thelenses 30 is coaxially aligned with the light axis of the respectivephotosensitive element 20. Each of the integral bases 11M is received inthe respective lower housing chamber 471M while the downward extendingsurrounding wall 47M surrounds and protects the respective integral base11M, so that a regular integral structure of the array camera module isachieved, and thus it is easy to assemble and an aesthetic appearance isenhanced. The sizes of the retaining chamber 461M and the lower housingchamber 471M can be determined by the size of the installing componentsto be installed, such as the actuator 60, the lens 30 and the integralbase 11M.

In one embodiment, the downward extending surrounding wall 47M can beextended to surround and protects the sides of the circuit board 12Mtoo. For example, but not limiting, the downward extending surroundingwall 47M is adhered to the side edges of the circuit board 12M byadhering glue, so that the light filter holder 40M can be more stablyinstalled.

Referring to FIG. 53 , an array camera module according to a nineteenthpreferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated.

Each of the integral bases 11N comprises a lens barrel 118N which is atleast partially and upwardly extended form the protrusion steps 116N todefine a lens cavity 1181N for installing the lens 30, so as to form aFix Focus camera module.

More specifically, the protrusion steps 116N and the base body 112N formthe installing groove 11N for installing the respective light filterholder 40N. The lens barrel 118N and the protrusion steps 116N formanother installing groove 115N for installing the lens 30. In otherwords, in this nineteenth embodiment, each of the integral bases 11N hastwo installing grooves 115N, one of which is used for installing therespective light filter holder 40N, and the other of which is used forinstalling the respective lens 30.

Furthermore, the engaging groove 42N of each of the light filter holders40N is coupled with the installing groove 115N, and the light filter 50is installed in the supporting groove 41N of the respective light filterholder 40N. The lens 30 is installed in the other installing groove115N.

The lens barrel 118N is used for providing an installation site for thelens 30 to retain the lens 30 in position, so that the light axis of thelens 30 is coaxially aligned with the light axis of the photosensitiveelement 20, and thus the installing accuracy thereof is enhanced.

FIG. 54A is an exploded view of an array camera module according to atwentieth preferred embodiment of the present invention. The arraycamera module 1000S comprises two camera module units 100S eachcomprising an integral base assembly 10S which comprises a circuit board12S, an integral base 11S and a light filter holder 40S. The differencebetween this twentieth embodiment and the above embodiment is that, thetwo circuit boards 12S of the two camera module units 100S are notintegrally formed, but are connected to each other, and the two integralbases 11S are integrally formed to form a joint integral base 1110S suchthat the two integral bases 11S sit and attach on the two circuit boards12S respectively. According to another embodiment, the two circuitboards 12S are not connecting with each other and have a gaptherebetween, i.e. the two circuit boards 12S are independent with eachother.

FIG. 54B is a sectional view of an array camera module according to atwenty first preferred embodiment of the present invention. The arraycamera module 1000T comprises two camera module units 100T. The arraycamera module 1000T comprises a joint circuit board 1120T providing twocircuit boards 12T, a joint integral base 1110T providing two integralbases 11T integrally packaged on the joint circuit board 1120T anddefining two light windows 111T for providing two light passages for thetwo lenses 30 and the two photosensitive elements 20 provided on the twocircuit boards 12T of the joint circuit board 1120T respectively. Twoinstalling grooves 115T are formed at a top side of the joint integralbase 1110T for respectively installing two independent light filterholders 40T for supporting two light filters 50 respectively. It isappreciated that in other embodiments, the top side of the jointintegral base 1110T may not be formed with the installing groove 115T,but is formed with a flat surface for installing the two light filterholders 40T. It is worth mentioning that each of the light filterholders 40T can be constructed to have any features identified in theabove embodiments.

It is worth mentioning that a dual camera module comprising two cameramodule units 100 is taken as an example for illustrating the arraycamera module in the above embodiments. However, in other embodiments,the array camera module 1000 may comprise more camera module units 100.In the above embodiments, features of the camera module units may besymmetrically arranged to form the array camera module 1000.

However, in other embodiments, each camera module unit 100 may havevarious combined features, and an array camera module 1000 withunsymmetrical configuration can be provided, the present invention isnot limited in this aspect.

FIG. 55 illustrates an application of multiple array camera modulesaccording to the above embodiments. The array camera module 1000 can beequipped in an electronic device body 200 to form an electronic device300 with the array camera module 1000.

As shown in FIG. 55 , the array camera module is equipped in a smartphone to implement image acquisition and image reproduction. In otherembodiments, the array camera module 1000 can be provided at otherelectronic device bodies to form different electronic devices 300 whichcan be but not limited to a smart phone, a wearable device, a computerdevice, a television, a transporting device, a digital camera and amonitoring device.

It is worth mentioning that the light filter holder is complemented intothe camera module based on the integral packaging process forcooperating with the integral base to overtake the function of theconventional holder, so that when utilizing the advantages of theintegral packaging process, the light filter holder can overcome andcompensate the disadvantages of the integral packaging process. On theother hand, the light filter holder can be integrally formed such asbeing formed by injection molding, so that a good flatness can beprovided, a more complicated shape can be formed and a more compact sizecan be achieved. And preferably, the characteristic of the material ofthe light filter holder can be utilized to reduce a reflectivity ofincident light beams. In addition, in view of the above embodiments, formatching with the shape of the integral base, the light filter holdercan be configured in various alternative modes, and they are also easyin constructing and convenient in manufacturing. More preferably, whenappropriate plastic material is used, no etching process is required andno blackening and abrading treatment is needed, wherein the light filerholder will be able to reduce the reflectivity of the incident lightbeams so as to avoid stray lights.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A camera module, comprising: at least a circuitboard; at least one photosensitive element operatively connected to saidcircuit board; at least one integral base integrally packaged on saidcircuit board, having at least one installing groove which is a ringshaped communicating groove; at least one light filter holder installedat said at least one installing groove of said integral base to form alight window defined within said integral base and said light filterholder for providing a light passage to said photosensitive element,wherein said at least one installing groove is provided facing andcommunicating with said light window, wherein said light filter holdercomprises a light filter holder body having an outer side supported onsaid installing groove and an inner side defining a receiving openingtherewithin, one or more downward extending arms downwardly extendedfrom said inner side of said light filter holder body, and one or moreinward extending arms transversely extended from said downward extendingarms to form one or more supporting grooves, wherein said one or moreinward extending arms are suspended above said photosensitive element;at least one light filter supported and retained in position by saidlight filter holder and being aligned in a photosensitive path of saidphotosensitive element, wherein said light filter is supported on saidinward extending arms at said supporting groove to drop said lightfilter below a top side of said light filter holder body; and at leastone lens, installed at said integral base, being positioned above saidlight filter and aligned in said photosensitive path of saidphotosensitive element.
 2. The camera module, as recited in claim 1,wherein said light filter holder comprises at least one engaging edgeengaging with said installing groove and has at least one engaginggroove provided in a bottom side, such that said light filter holder andsaid integral base are engaged with each other by sitting said at leastengaging edge at said installing groove of said integral base while aninner portion of said integral base is engaged with said engaging grooveof said light filter holder.
 3. The camera module, as recited in claim2, wherein said downward extending arms are integrally extended fromsaid inner side of said light filter holder body to define an outerengaging groove at a bottom side of said light holder body, wherein saidouter engaging groove is formed between said integral base and saiddownward extending arms.
 4. The camera module, as recited in claim 1,wherein said integral base of said camera module comprises an upwardextending surrounding wall which is upwardly extended from said lightfilter holder body to form a retaining chamber to install said lenstherein.
 5. The camera module, as recited in claim 4, wherein said lightfilter holder of said camera module comprises a light filter holder bodyhaving a receiving opening defined therein, one or more downwardextending arms and one or more inward extending arms, wherein saiddownward extending arm is downwardly extended from at least a portion ofan inner side surrounding and defining said receiving opening of saidlight filter holder body to form an engaging groove for engaging withsaid integral base, wherein said inward extending arm is transverselyextended from said downward extending arm to form an supporting groovefor supporting said light filter.
 6. The camera module, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said integral base of said camera module comprises anupward extending surrounding wall which is upwardly extended from saidlight filter holder body to form a retaining chamber to install saidlens therein and a downward extending surrounding wall which isdownwardly extended from said light filter holder body to form a lowerhousing chamber to receiving at least said integral base with said lightfilter holder therein.
 7. The camera module, as recited in claim 6,wherein said light filter holder of said camera module comprises a lightfilter holder body having a receiving opening defined therein, one ormore downward extending arms and one or more inward extending arms,wherein said downward extending arm is downwardly extended from at leasta portion of an inner side surrounding and defining said receivingopening of said light filter holder body to form an engaging groove forengaging with said integral base, wherein said inward extending arm istransversely extended from said downward extending arm to form ansupporting groove for supporting said light filter.
 8. The cameramodule, as recited in claim 1, wherein said downward extending arms areintegrally extended from said inner side of said light filter holderbody to define an outer engaging groove at a bottom side of said lightholder body, wherein said outer engaging groove is formed between saidintegral base and said downward extending arms.
 9. The camera module, asrecited in claim 8, wherein said integral base of said camera modulecomprises an integral base body which is molded to be integrallypackaged on said circuit board, wherein said integral base body has atleast one opening, wherein said light filter holder of said cameramodule comprises at least one extending leg which is downwardly andintegrally extended from said light filter holder body to said circuitboard to fittingly insert into and cover said opening of said integralbase so as to sealedly enclose said light window defined by saidintegral base and light filter holder.
 10. The camera module, as recitedin claim 9, wherein said opening of said base body of said camera modulehas an inverted trapezoid shape which has gradually increasing size frombottom to top, and said extending leg also has an inverted trapezoidshape to match with said inverted trapezoid shape of said opening, so asto retain said light filter holder in position with said integral base.11. The camera module, as recited in claim 8, wherein said light filterholder of said camera module further comprises at least one retainingprotrusion which is at least partially protruded from a top of saidlight filter holder body.
 12. The camera module, as recited in claim 11,wherein said retaining protrusion is constructed to be in ring shape.13. The camera module, as recited in claim 8, wherein said camera modulecomprises an actuator which is at least partially and selectivelyinstalled to said integral base and said light filter holder.
 14. Thecamera module, as recited in claim 8, wherein at least a corner openingis formed between two of said inward extending arms of said cameramodule, wherein said corner opening is outwardly extended from saidlight window for increasing a light flux at said corner opening.
 15. Thecamera module, as recited in claim 8, wherein said lens of said cameramodule is at least partially and selectively installed to said integralbase and said light filter holder.
 16. The camera module, as recited inclaim 8, wherein said lens of said camera module is at least partiallyinstalled to said integral base.
 17. The camera module, as recited inclaim 8, wherein said integral base is integrally molded on said circuitboard.
 18. The camera module, as recited in claim 8, wherein saidcircuit board of said camera module comprises a base board and at leastone electronic component provided on said base board, wherein electroniccomponent is embedded in said integral base integrally packaged on saidbase board.
 19. The camera module, as recited in claim 8, wherein atleast a corner opening is formed between two of said inward extendingarms of said camera module, wherein said corner opening is outwardlyextended from said light window for increasing a light flux at saidcorner opening, wherein said integral base of said camera module isfurther formed with a lens barrel which defines a lens cavity to installsaid lens therein.
 20. The camera module, as recited in claim 8, whereinsaid light filter holder of said camera module is made through aninjection molding process.
 21. The camera module, as recited in claim 8,wherein at least a corner opening is formed between two of said inwardextending arms of said camera module, wherein said corner opening isoutwardly extended from said light window for increasing a light flux atsaid corner opening, wherein said integral base of said camera modulehas an inner side surface defining an inclination angle.
 22. The cameramodule, as recited in claim 8, wherein at least a corner opening isformed between two of said inward extending arms of said camera module,wherein said corner opening is outwardly extended from said light windowfor increasing a light flux at said corner opening, wherein said lightfilter holder of said camera module comprises a light filter holder bodyhaving a receiving opening defined therein and one or more inwardextending arm transversely extended from at least a portion of an innerside surrounding and defining said receiving opening of said lightfilter holder body to form a supporting groove for installing said lightfilter therein.
 23. The camera module, as recited in claim 1, whereinsaid camera module comprises at least two integral base assemblies, atleast two said photosensitive elements, at least two said lenses, atleast two said light filter holders, and at least two said lightfilters, wherein said integral base assemblies are integrally packagedon said circuit board to form a joint circuit board assembly, whereineach of said integral base assemblies comprises one said integral baseand said integral bases are integrally formed to form a joint integralbase.
 24. The camera module, as recited in claim 23, wherein said lightfilter holders are integrally connected to form a joint light filterholder.
 25. The camera module, as recited in claim 23, wherein each ofsaid light filter holders is an independent light filter holder.